Easy Living in D#

Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin()swingMed
Do Re MiC D E
A
A
B
A

Chord Diagrams — Easy Living in D# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
D♯Maj7
EADGBE11333x
3frEADGBE111x436frEADGBE1113248frEADGBE111xx4
Edim7
EADGBE123
EADGBExx13246frEADGBEx2314x11frEADGBE112x3x
Fm7
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
F♯dim7
EADGBE112x3x
EADGBE1112344frEADGBExx13248frEADGBE111234
D♯maj7/a
EADGBE11333x
3frEADGBE111x436frEADGBE1113248frEADGBE111xx4
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
G♯Maj7
4frEADGBE111423
6frEADGBE11x3339frEADGBEx3241x11frEADGBE111324
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
G7♯5
EADGBE4312
EADGBE1x234x5frEADGBExx142310frEADGBE11x432
C9
EADGBE222221
7frEADGBE1123447frEADGBE1113249frEADGBExx2143
F7♯5
EADGBE1234x
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE11x43212frEADGBE213x4x
A♯9
EADGBEx1234
5frEADGBE11234x6frEADGBE11132412frEADGBE2222x1
A♯7♭9
EADGBEx123
4frEADGBE3241xx6frEADGBE111x2312frEADGBE11x234
D♯
EADGBExx1243
3frEADGBE11x4326frEADGBE11x2348frEADGBE111xx4
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
BMaj7
EADGBE111324
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11333x
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
F♯7/E
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
G♯m7/F♯
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
Fm7♭5
EADGBE1x23x
EADGBE222xx18frEADGBEx1324x11frEADGBE2134x

Easy Living in D#

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

swing4/4 · 41 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: D♯Maj7, Edim7, Fm7, F♯dim7, D♯maj7/a, A♯m7, D♯7, G♯Maj7, C♯7, Cm7, A♯7, G7♯5, C9, F7♯5, A♯9, A♯7♭9, D♯, G♯7, C♯m7, F♯7, BMaj7, G♯m7, F♯7/E, D♯m7, G♯m7/F♯, Fm7♭5.

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

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