Bebop in D

Dizzy Gillespie / Stan Getz / Sonny Stitt(1958)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
Gaug♭9add7
Faug7
A11♭9

Chord Diagrams — Bebop in D (Guitar)

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Bebop 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 E (ascending whole step), E to G (ascending minor third), G to E (descending minor third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# 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 A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to A (descending half 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 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.

swing2/2 · 35 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Dm6, Edim, Gdim, E7, A7♯9, C♯dim, A♯dim, Dm7, Gaug♭9add7, CMaj7, Cm7, Faug7, A♯Maj7, A11♭9.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop minor, D bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D