Killing Me Softly with His Song in D

Charles Fox / Norman Gimbel /Lori Lieberman(1971)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
G/B

Chord Diagrams — Killing Me Softly with His Song in D (Guitar)

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Killing Me Softly with His Song 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 G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D (ascending major third), D to C (descending whole step), C to A (descending minor third), A to G (descending whole step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to D# (descending whole step), D# 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 G 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 · 26 bars · Form: A

Chords: Gm7, C9, F, A♯Maj7, Dm7, C7, A7, G/B, C, FMaj7, D♯Maj7, D.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop minor, D bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D