How to practice Bill's Hit Tune with play-along tracks?

Use the play-along backing track above to practice Bill's Hit Tune in the key of D. Listen to the audio with bass, piano, and drums, start by playing the melody, then practice improvisation and soloing over the chord changes.

What scales to use for soloing over Bill's Hit Tune?

For soloing over Bill's Hit Tune, recommended scales include: bebop minor, bebop. Use arpeggio patterns over each chord to create melodic lines that follow the harmony of this jazz tune.

Who composed Bill's Hit Tune?

Bill's Hit Tune was composed by Evans Bill. It is a medium-swing standard in 4/4 time. The original key is C; this page shows it transposed to D.

What key is Bill's Hit Tune in?

The original key of Bill's Hit Tune is C. The form is AB with 52 bars. This page shows the chart transposed to D.

What scales work for improvising over Bill's Hit Tune?

Recommended scales for Bill's Hit Tune in D: bebop minor, bebop. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays, with context-aware analysis (e.g., Phrygian Dominant over secondary dominants).

How does the interactive backing track work?

The backing track plays with realistic walking bass, drum patterns, and voice-led chord voicings. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays. You can limit the fretboard zone for close-proximity voicings, toggle a reference melody, loop any section, and choose between multiple sound presets. Works for guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and 7 more instruments.

Can I edit the chord chart?

Yes. You can modify the structure, chords, and arrangement of any standard to match your preferred version or create your own reharmonization.

Do Re MiC D E

Bill's Hit Tune

Evans Bill4/4medium-swing

BPM: 120

Chord Diagrams — Bill's Hit Tune in D (Guitar)

Display

FingerNoteDegree

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

Starting fret

Open123456789101112

Em7♭5/G

C7sus4

A7sus4

A13

Dmaj7♯5

Gmaj7♯11

Bm7/G

F♯m7/D

C♯m7/A

F♯m7/A

Explore More

Bill's Hit Tune 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 E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to A# (descending major 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 major third), A to A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to F (descending minor third), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (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 E to E by unison.

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.

medium-swing4/4 · 52 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Em7♭5, Em7♭5/G, A7♭9, Dm7, A♯maj7, D7♯9, Gm7, C7sus4, C7, Fmaj7, A7sus4, A13, Dmaj7♯5, Gmaj7♯11, C♯m7♭5, F♯7♭9, Bm7, Bm7/G, G♯m7♭5, C♯7♭9, F♯m7, F♯m7/D, D♯m7♭5, G♯7♭9, C♯m7, C♯m7/A, A♯m7♭5, D♯7♭9, G♯maj7, G♯7, Fm7, F♯m7/A, B7♭9, EmMaj7.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop minor, D bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D

Go deeper

All 25 guides →

Guide · ScalesScales for jazz improvisation Guide · ScalesBebop scales guide