It Might As Well Be Spring in D

Richard Rodgers()swingModerately
Do Re MiC D E
A
A
B
A

Chord Diagrams — It Might As Well Be Spring in D (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree

It Might As Well Be Spring in D

It Might As Well Be Spring 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 G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F# (descending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to A (descending major third), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison). 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.

swing2/2 · 35 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: D6, G9, F♯m7, B7, Em7, A7, D, Am7, D7, G, G♯m7, C♯7, A7/c, Em7/g, C♯7♭5, F♯7, Bm7, E7, Em7/d.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D