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I Remember Clifford in E
Benny Golson's tribute to Clifford Brown is a deeply expressive ballad that invites Bebop Major lyricism on the tonic, Dorian warmth on the minor ii chords, and Altered scale tension on the dominant chords that resolve to emotional release. The elegy-like quality demands a singing tone and long, arching melodic phrases that honor the spirit of Brown's trumpet sound. One of the most emotionally demanding ballads in the jazz canon.
Key of 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 A to B (ascending whole step), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step), B to A (descending whole step), A to G (descending whole step), G to F# (descending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to C (ascending whole step), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to F (descending minor third), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step), B to B (ascending unison), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to E (ascending minor third). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from E to A by perfect fourth.
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.