Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile) in D

Carlos Santana / Tom Coster(1976)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
Dm7/C
Em7/A
DMaj7add9
Em7/A
Gm7/C
C7add9
Em7/A
Gm7/C
Em7/A
DMaj7add9
C7add9
Em7/A

Chord Diagrams — Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile) in D (Guitar)

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Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile) 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 whole step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to G (descending perfect fourth). 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 G 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 · 43 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Dm7/C, C7, FMaj7, A♯Maj7, Em7/A, A7, Dm, DMaj7add9, Gm7, Gm7/C, C7add9, Gm.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop minor, D bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D