When I Fall In Love in E

Victor Young(1952)balladModerately
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
A
C
C♯7♯5♭9
C♯7♯5♭9
C♯9♯5
C♯7♯5♭9
C♯7♯5♭9
C♯9♯5

Chord Diagrams — When I Fall In Love in E (Guitar)

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When I Fall In Love in E

When I Fall in Love in E: this timeless romantic ballad flows through clean ii-V-I motion, ideal for singing Bebop Major lines and Dorian phrases. Mixolydian smooths the dominant chords — let the melody lead the improvisation. Chords: E – C#7#5b9 – F#m7 – B7 – D9 – C#9#5 – B7b9 – G#m7 – C#7 – F#m – C#7b9 – A – C#m7.

When I Fall In Love 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 C# (descending minor third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to D (ascending minor third), D to C# (descending half step), C# to B (descending whole step), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to A (descending major third), A to C# (ascending major third). 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 C# to E by minor third.

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 · 34 bars · Form: ABAC

Chords: E, C♯7♯5♭9, F♯m7, B7, D9, C♯9♯5, B7♭9, G♯m7, C♯7, F♯m, C♯7♭9, A, C♯m7.

Scales for Improvisation E major, E dorian, E mixolydian, E bebop major, E major pentatonic.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E