Alone Together in E

Arthur Schwartz()balladBallad
Do Re MiC D E
A
A
B
A

Chord Diagrams — Alone Together in E (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree

Alone Together in E

Alone Together in E

E major is arguably guitar's most powerful key. The open low E and high E strings ring sympathetically as the root, while the open B provides the fifth. This triple reinforcement gives E-based riffs and chords unmatched depth and volume. E is a beginner-level key on guitar because both the low E and high E strings ring as the root, and the open B is the fifth — three open strings reinforce the tonic chord. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to D (descending major third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to B (ascending major third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth). The root motion by larger intervals (fourths and fifths) gives each chord change a strong, decisive character. When the progression loops, the bass returns from D to E by whole step.

Scales for Improvisation

E major pentatonic works because every note is either a chord tone or a safe passing tone — there are no avoid notes. For soloing, this means you can play freely without clashing. Over dominant seventh chords, E Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

ballad4/4 · 59 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: Em, F♯m7♭5, B7♭9, Bm7♭5, E7♭9, Am, Am7, C♯m7, F♯7, D7, G, G7, B7, EMaj7, Am7♭5, D7♭9.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop minor, E bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E