Corcovado in D

A. C. Jobim()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
E7/B
D7sus4
B7♯5
E7/B
D7sus4

Chord Diagrams — Corcovado in D (Guitar)

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Corcovado 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 A# (ascending tritone), A# to A (descending half step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to G (ascending unison), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F# (ascending tritone), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to G (ascending minor third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F# (ascending tritone), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to B (ascending whole step), B to A (descending whole step), A to D (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 D to E 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.

swing4/4 · 36 bars · Form: A

Chords: E7/B, A♯dim, Am7, D7sus4, Gdim, GMaj7, Gm7, C7, F♯7, B7♯5, E7, Em7, G6, C7♭5, F♯m7, Bm7, A7♭9, B7, A7, DMaj7.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D