It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio stasera) in D

Henry Mancini / Franco Migliacci / Johnny Mercer(1963)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
Aaug7

Chord Diagrams — It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio stasera) in D (Guitar)

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It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio stasera) 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 G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A (ascending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to F (ascending minor third), F to E (descending half step), E to G (ascending minor third), G to A (ascending whole step), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to D# (descending 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 D by half 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.

swing2/2 · 52 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Dm, Gm, A7, D7, F, E7, Gm7, Aaug7, C♯dim7, Edim7, D♯.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop minor, D bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D