Are You Real in D

Benny Golson(1959)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
A7/G

Chord Diagrams — Are You Real in D (Guitar)

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Are You Real 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 C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to F (ascending tritone), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to B (descending half step), B to A (descending whole step), A to B (ascending whole step). 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 B to C# 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 · 25 bars · Form: AB

Chords: C♯m, F♯7♭9, Bm, E7, A, D, G♯m7♭5, C♯7♯9, F♯m7♭5, B7♭9, Fm, A♯7, Em, A7, F♯7, C7, B7, A7/G, B7♯9.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D