Come Rain or Come Shine in D

Johnny Mercer / Harold Arlen(1946)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B7♯9♯5

Chord Diagrams — Come Rain or Come Shine in D (Guitar)

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Come Rain or Come Shine 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 C# (descending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C (descending whole step), C to F# (ascending tritone), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole 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.

swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: DMaj7, C♯m, F♯7, Bm, E7, A7, D7, Am, Gm, Dm, A7♭9, Dm6, Cm6, F♯m7♭5, B7♯9♯5, D♯m, G♯7, F♯m, B7, Bm7, C♯m7♭5, F♯7♯9, B7♯9, A7♯9.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D