Do Re MiC D E

I'll Remember April

Raye-DePaul4/4medium-swing

Chord Diagrams — I'll Remember April in D (Guitar)

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I'll Remember April 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 D (ascending unison), D to D (ascending unison), D to D (ascending unison), D to E (ascending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), 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 G (descending whole step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to C# (descending major third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending 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 B to D 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.

medium-swing4/4 · 48 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Dmaj7, D6, Dm7, Dm6, Em7♭5, A7♭9, F♯m7♭5, B7♭9, Em7, A7, Gm7, C7, Fmaj7, C♯m7, F♯7, Bmaj7.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D