Once I Loved (O Amor Em Paz) in E

Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes / Ray Gilbert(1960)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
D7♯5

Chord Diagrams — Once I Loved (O Amor Em Paz) in E (Guitar)

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Once I Loved (O Amor Em Paz) 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 A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to B (ascending half step), B to G (descending major third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to D# (descending half step), D# to A (ascending tritone), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to C (descending half step), C to B (descending half step), B to A# (descending half step), A# to A (descending half step), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison). 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 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.

swing4/4 · 30 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Am7, D7♯5, GMaj7, G♯dim, A♯dim, Bm7, Gm7, C7, FMaj7, F♯m7♭5, A♯9, EMaj7, D♯9, A7, DMaj7, G7, CMaj7, C♯m7♭5, Cm6, Bm6, A♯7♭5, Am7♭5, Em6, E7.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop minor, E bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E