If You Could See Me Now in E

Tadd Dameron()balladBallad
Do Re MiC D E
A
A
B
A

Chord Diagrams — If You Could See Me Now in E (Guitar)

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If You Could See Me Now in E

If You Could See Me Now 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 A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G# (descending half step), G# to G (descending half step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F# (ascending tritone), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to A (descending half step), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to B (descending whole step), B to A# (descending half step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to C (descending minor third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. 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 B to E 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.

ballad4/4 · 38 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: EMaj7, A7, G♯m7, Gm7, C7, F♯m7, B7, G♯7♯5, C♯7, A♯m7♭5, Am7, C♯m7, Bm7, A♯m7, D♯7, Cm7, F7, F♯7, BMaj7.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E