O Grande Amor in E

Antonio Carlos Jobim / Vinicius DeMoraes(1963)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B7♭9/D♯
B7♭9/D♯
Em7/B

Chord Diagrams — O Grande Amor in E (Guitar)

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O Grande Amor in E

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 E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to D (ascending minor third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F# (descending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to B (ascending tritone), B to A# (descending half step), A# to E (ascending tritone). 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 E to E by unison.

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.

swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: Em7, B7♭9/D♯, Dm7, G7, F♯m7♭5, B7♯9, E7♯9, Am7, D7, GMaj7, CMaj7, FMaj7, Bm7♭5, A♯dim7, Em7/B.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop minor, E bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E