Blame It on My Youth in D#

Oscar Levant / Edward Heyman(1934)ballad
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
D♯69
G♯dim♯7/D♯
D♯69
G♯dim♯7/D♯
A♯7sus4
D♯/G
A♯7/G♯
A♯7/G♯
Fm7/D♯
F7sus4
A♯7/G♯
Fm7/D♯

Chord Diagrams — Blame It on My Youth in D# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
D♯69
EADGBExx234
EADGBE1111x25frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111234
G♯dim♯7/D♯
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
Gm7♭5
EADGBE3xx421
EADGBE2x341x5frEADGBE222xx110frEADGBEx1324x
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
A♯7sus4
EADGBE111x34
EADGBE1122xx6frEADGBE1111348frEADGBExx1324
Fm7
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
D♯
EADGBExx1243
3frEADGBE11x4326frEADGBE11x2348frEADGBE111xx4
G♯dim
EADGBE31x42x
6frEADGBExx12x39frEADGBEx41x2311frEADGBEx1243x
B/A
EADGBE111234
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE11x243
D♯/G
EADGBExx1243
3frEADGBE11x4326frEADGBE11x2348frEADGBE111xx4
D♯6
EADGBE11xx34
4frEADGBEx4231x6frEADGBE3333x110frEADGBE2x143x
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
Edim
EADGBExx12x3
5frEADGBEx41x237frEADGBEx1243x10frEADGBE31x42x
A♯7/G♯
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
G♯Maj7
4frEADGBE111423
6frEADGBE11x3339frEADGBEx3241x11frEADGBE111324
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
Dm7♭5
EADGBE111xx
3frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBEx1432
Fm7/D♯
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
F7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
F7sus4
EADGBE111134
6frEADGBE1112348frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE11xx34
C7♭9
EADGBE11x234
6frEADGBE3241xx8frEADGBE111x239frEADGBExx3142
Edim7
EADGBE123
EADGBExx13246frEADGBEx2314x11frEADGBE112x3x
F9
EADGBE111324
EADGBExx21437frEADGBE22222110frEADGBE1111x2

Blame It on My Youth in D#

Key of D#

D# major (Eb) requires barre shapes rooted on the 6th and 5th strings. It is a favorite key for horn players, so guitarists encounter it in funk and soul bands. Using barre chords at frets 1, 3, and 6 covers the primary shapes. D# is a intermediate-advanced-level key on guitar because no standard open strings match this key's chord tones. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C (ascending major third), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to F (descending perfect fourth), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to C (descending minor third), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to E (descending minor third), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to A# (descending perfect fourth), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to G (ascending tritone), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to F (ascending minor third), F to F (ascending unison), F to F (ascending unison), F to C (descending perfect fourth), C to E (ascending major third), E to F (ascending 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 F to D# 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.

ballad4/4 · 34 bars · Form: AB

Chords: D♯69, G♯dim♯7/D♯, C7, Gm7♭5, A♯7, A♯7sus4, Fm7, D♯, G♯dim, B/A, D♯/G, D♯6, Cm7, Gm7, Edim, A♯7/G♯, D♯7, A♯m7, G♯Maj7, C♯7, G7, Dm7♭5, Fm7/D♯, F7, F7sus4, C7♭9, Edim7, F9.

Scales for Improvisation D# bebop, D# bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D#