Au Privave in D

Charlie Parker(1951)swingUp Tempo
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — Au Privave in D (Guitar)

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Au Privave in D

Charlie Parker's bebop blues relies on precise Mixolydian and Bebop vocabulary deployed over a snappy D groove with characteristic Bird wit. The compact 12-bar form distills bebop language to its essentials without sacrificing harmonic depth. Study the D7 – G7 – F#m7 – B7 – Em7 – A7 changes to refine bebop blues phrasing, articulation, and rhythmic precision.

Au Privave in 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 G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F# (descending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (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 A to D by perfect fourth.

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 · 12 bars · Form: A

Chords: D7, G7, F♯m7, B7, Em7, A7.

Scales for Improvisation D major blues, D mixolydian, D bebop, D bebop major, D major pentatonic.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D