Fly Me To The Moon in D
Fly Me To The Moon in D
D version of Fly Me To The Moon: a cycle-of-fourths progression (vi-ii-V-I) that swings effortlessly. Bebop Major handles the major chords; Mixolydian adds bluesy color over the dominants. Changes: Bm7 – Em7 – A7 – DMaj7 – GMaj7 – C#m7b5 – F#7b9 – B7b9 – A9 – A7b9 – Dmaj9 – Bm9 – Gdim7/c – C#m7 – F#7 – A7/f – F#m7b5 – Em7/g – D6 – C9 – C6 – C#6 – D69.
Fly Me To The Moon 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 B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to B (descending minor third), B to G (descending major third), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to E (descending whole step), E to D (descending whole step), D to C (descending whole step), C to C (ascending unison), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to D (ascending half 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 D to B by minor third.
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.