All That Jazz in D

John Kander / Fred Ebb(1975)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
A7♯5
F♯m7♭5/C
B7♯5
A7♯5
F♯m7♭5/C
D7/C
Gm/A♯
D/A

Chord Diagrams — All That Jazz in D (Guitar)

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All That Jazz in D

Key of D

D major is one of guitar's most resonant keys. The open D string acts as a droning root, and the open A string provides the fifth. This gives D-based strumming a wide, ringing quality that flatpicks and fingerpicks love. D is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open D and A strings provide a powerful bass foundation, and the open high E is the 2nd scale degree adding brightness. 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 A (ascending unison), A to A# (ascending half step), A# to B (ascending half step), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to A# (descending perfect fourth), A# to B (ascending half step), B to C (ascending half step), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to F (descending whole step), F to E (descending half step), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to E (ascending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to D (descending 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 D to D by unison.

Scales for Improvisation

D 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, D Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

swing4/4 · 95 bars · Form: A

Chords: D, A7♯5, A7, A♯7, B7, F♯m7♭5/C, D♯, A♯, B, C7, Gm7♭5, F7♭9, E, B7♯5, C♯7, F♯7♭9, A, D7, Em7, Asus4, D7/C, Gm/A♯, D/A.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D