Along Came Betty in D

Benny Golson(1958)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
D♯7♭9♯5
C♯13
C♯7♯5
DMaj9

Chord Diagrams — Along Came Betty in D (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
Fm7
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
D♯7♭9
EADGBExx24
5frEADGBE11x2346frEADGBE11x349frEADGBE3241xx
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
C♯Maj7
EADGBE111x43
4frEADGBE1113246frEADGBE11xxx39frEADGBE1x342x
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
F♯9
EADGBE111324
3frEADGBExx21438frEADGBE22222111frEADGBE1111x2
BMaj7
EADGBE111324
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11333x
D♯7♭9♯5
D♯ - G - B - C♯ - E
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
C♯13
EADGBEx4231
4frEADGBE1111347frEADGBE2223419frEADGBE111234
C♯7♯5
EADGBEx4321
4frEADGBE11x4327frEADGBE431x29frEADGBE1x234x
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
B7♭9
EADGBE11x234
5frEADGBE3241xx7frEADGBE111x238frEADGBE11xx23
D♯m7♭5
EADGBE222xx1
6frEADGBEx1324x7frEADGBE11xx2410frEADGBE2x341x
G♯7♭9
EADGBE111x2
4frEADGBE11xx235frEADGBE11xx2310frEADGBE11x234
A♯m7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
EADGBE11xx245frEADGBE2x341x8frEADGBE222xx1
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
A♯9
EADGBEx1234
5frEADGBE11234x6frEADGBE11132412frEADGBE2222x1
F♯m7♭5
EADGBE2341
4frEADGBE222xx19frEADGBEx1324x10frEADGBE11xx24
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
Em7♭5
EADGBE33312
7frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBE11xx2411frEADGBE2x341x
A7♯9
5frEADGBE114432
6frEADGBExx21348frEADGBEx421311frEADGBEx2134x
DMaj9

Along Came Betty 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 E to F (ascending half step), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to D (descending half step), D to C# (descending half step), C# to C (descending half step), C to C (ascending unison), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to B (ascending half step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to F# (descending major third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending 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 E by whole step.

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 · 34 bars · Form: A

Chords: Em7, Fm7, A♯7, D♯7♭9, D7, C♯Maj7, C7, Cm7, C♯m7, F♯7, F♯9, BMaj7, D♯7♭9♯5, G♯m7, C♯13, C♯7♯5, F♯m7, B7♭9, D♯m7♭5, G♯7♭9, A♯m7♭5, Bm7, E7, A♯9, F♯m7♭5, B7, Em7♭5, A7♯9, DMaj9.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D