Anything Goes in D

Cole Porter(1934)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
F♯m/E

Chord Diagrams — Anything Goes in D (Guitar)

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Anything Goes 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 D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to C (descending minor third). 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 D 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 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: D, A7, D7, G, Gm, C♯7, F♯, C♯m7, F♯m, F♯m/E, D♯m7♭5, C7.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D