Ruby, My Dear in E

Thelonius Monk(1945)ballad
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Ruby, My Dear in E (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
D7♭9
2frEADGBExx431
4frEADGBE11x2345frEADGBE11x248frEADGBE3241xx
Am
EADGBEx231
2frEADGBE444x15frEADGBE1111347frEADGBEx1342
GMaj7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1114235frEADGBE11333x10frEADGBE11x324
E7♭9
EADGBE312
4frEADGBE11346frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE3241xx
Bm
EADGBE111342
7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBExx134210frEADGBExx3241
C♯m
EADGBEx4213x
4frEADGBE1113426frEADGBE1132x49frEADGBE111134
Cm
EADGBEx3214
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE1142xx8frEADGBE111134
AMaj7
EADGBEx213
EADGBE111x45frEADGBE1114237frEADGBE333x1
G7♭9
EADGBE11324
EADGBE111x234frEADGBE11xx239frEADGBE11x234
Dm
EADGBExx231
5frEADGBE1113426frEADGBEx4231x10frEADGBE111134
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
Em
EADGBE23
2frEADGBE113427frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE4312xx
CMaj7
EADGBE231
3frEADGBE1113245frEADGBE111xx410frEADGBE333xx1
C♯6
EADGBEx4231x
4frEADGBE3333x16frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11x324
Daug7
EADGBExx412
4frEADGBEx213x45frEADGBE11x43210frEADGBE1x234x
D♯m/G♯
EADGBExx1342
EADGBExx32416frEADGBE11134211frEADGBE111134
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
A♯m
EADGBE11x342
6frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE111xx38frEADGBExx1342
C♯Maj7
EADGBE111x43
4frEADGBE1113246frEADGBE11xxx39frEADGBE1x342x
G♯7♭9
EADGBE111x2
4frEADGBE11xx235frEADGBE11xx2310frEADGBE11x234
D♯m
EADGBExx1342
EADGBExx32416frEADGBE11134211frEADGBE111134
D♯dim7
EADGBExx1324
5frEADGBE11x2347frEADGBExx132410frEADGBE112x3x
D6
EADGBExx23
3frEADGBEx4231x5frEADGBE3333x17frEADGBE111134
EmMaj7
EADGBE21
EADGBE113424frEADGBE11x42x7frEADGBE111423
F♯m
EADGBE111134
4frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBExx32419frEADGBE111342
Gm
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBExx134210frEADGBE111342
G7♯9
EADGBE3241
3frEADGBE1144324frEADGBE44x2319frEADGBEx2134x
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
C♯6/G♯
EADGBEx4231x
4frEADGBE3333x16frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11x324
D♯7♭9
EADGBExx24
5frEADGBE11x2346frEADGBE11x349frEADGBE3241xx
A♯Maj7
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111xx46frEADGBE1114238frEADGBE11333x
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113

Ruby, My Dear 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 D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to E (descending minor third), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to C (descending half step), C to A (descending minor third), A to G (descending whole step), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to C (descending major third), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to D (ascending half step), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to C# (ascending minor third), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to D# (descending perfect fourth), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to D (descending half step), D to E (ascending whole step), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to G (ascending half step), G to G (ascending unison), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to A# (descending perfect fourth), A# to D (ascending major 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 D to D 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.

ballad4/4 · 28 bars · Form: AB

Chords: D7♭9, Am, GMaj7, E7♭9, Bm, C♯m, Cm, AMaj7, G7♭9, Dm, A7, Em, CMaj7, C♯6, Daug7, D♯m/G♯, G♯7, A♯m, C♯Maj7, G♯7♭9, D♯m, D♯dim7, D6, EmMaj7, F♯m, Gm, G7♯9, C7, C♯6/G♯, D♯7♭9, A♯Maj7, Dm7.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E