Bidin' My Time in D

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin(1930)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
D/A
E/B
G/A
D/A
A7sus4

Chord Diagrams — Bidin' My Time in D (Guitar)

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Bidin' My Time 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 B to D (ascending minor third), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to G (ascending minor third), G to B (ascending major third), B to D (ascending minor third), D to E (ascending whole step), E to D (descending whole step), D to B (descending minor third), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to E (ascending unison), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to G (descending major third), G to A (ascending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth). 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 D to B by minor third.

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: A

Chords: Bm, DMaj7, A7, Em7, G/B, B7, D, Em7♭5, D/A, B, F♯7, C♯m7, E/B, E7, Bm7♭5, Bm7, G/A, A7sus4, D6.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D