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
DMaj7
EADGBE111xx
2frEADGBE111x435frEADGBE1113247frEADGBE111xx4
D♯dim7
EADGBExx1324
5frEADGBE11x2347frEADGBExx132410frEADGBE112x3x
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
Fdim7
EADGBE1x23
EADGBE11xx347frEADGBE11123412frEADGBE3x142x
Dmaj7/a
5frEADGBE111324
EADGBE111xx2frEADGBE111x437frEADGBE111xx4
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
GMaj7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1114235frEADGBE11333x10frEADGBE11x324
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
F♯7♯5
EADGBE1x234x
4frEADGBExx14237frEADGBEx43129frEADGBE11x432
B9
EADGBE2222x1
4frEADGBE1114327frEADGBE1113248frEADGBExx2143
E7♯5
EADGBE412
2frEADGBExx14237frEADGBE11x43212frEADGBE1x234x
A9
2frEADGBE431
EADGBE11x325frEADGBE11132411frEADGBE2222x1
A7♭9
EADGBE11x23
5frEADGBE1114236frEADGBE11xx2311frEADGBE11x234
D
EADGBExx132
2frEADGBE1114325frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE111342
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
F7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
A♯Maj7
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111xx46frEADGBE1114238frEADGBE11333x
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
F7/D♯
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
Gm7/F
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
Em7♭5
EADGBE33312
7frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBE11xx2411frEADGBE2x341x

Easy Living in D

Easy Living in 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 D# (ascending half step), D# to E (ascending half step), E 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 B (descending half step), B to A (descending whole step), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E 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 A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# 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 E (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 E 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: DMaj7, D♯dim7, Em7, Fdim7, Dmaj7/a, Am7, D7, GMaj7, C7, Bm7, A7, F♯7♯5, B9, E7♯5, A9, A7♭9, D, G7, Cm7, F7, A♯Maj7, Gm7, F7/D♯, Dm7, Gm7/F, Em7♭5.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D