ANGELICA PURPLE GAZELLE in D

Duke Elington(1965)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
D/A
D♯/A
E/A
F/A
E/A
C♭/F
D7♭9♯11
D/A
D♯/A
E/A
F/A
E/A
C♭/F

Chord Diagrams — ANGELICA PURPLE GAZELLE in D (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
D
EADGBExx132
2frEADGBE1114325frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE111342
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
Em
EADGBE23
2frEADGBE113427frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE4312xx
D/A
5frEADGBE111234
EADGBExx1322frEADGBE11143210frEADGBE111342
D♯/A
EADGBExx1243
3frEADGBE11x4326frEADGBE11x2348frEADGBE111xx4
E/A
EADGBE231
2frEADGBExx12434frEADGBE1114327frEADGBE111234
F/A
5frEADGBE111432
EADGBE1113423frEADGBE11x2438frEADGBE111234
B/F
EADGBE111234
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE11x243
G♯
EADGBE11132x
4frEADGBE1113426frEADGBE11x2438frEADGBE111432
Gm6
EADGBE2222x1
3frEADGBE1112345frEADGBE111x328frEADGBE11x324
Dm6
EADGBExx21
3frEADGBE11x3245frEADGBEx13x249frEADGBE2222x1
D7♭9♯11
D - F♯ - A - C - E♭ - G♯

ANGELICA PURPLE GAZELLE 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 C (ascending minor third), C to B (descending half step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to E (ascending half step), E to F (ascending half step), F to Cb (descending perfect fourth), Cb to G# (descending major third), G# to G (descending half step), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison). 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

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 · 42 bars · Form: AB

Chords: D, A7, C7, B7, Em, D/A, D♯/A, E/A, F/A, C♭/F, G♯, Gm6, Dm6, D7♭9♯11.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D