Lullaby of Broadway in D

Harry Warren / Al Dubin(1935)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
D9sus4
Am7/G
D7/G
Am7/G
Am7/G
D7/G
Am7/G

Chord Diagrams — Lullaby of Broadway in D (Guitar)

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Lullaby of Broadway 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 half step), D# to E (ascending half step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to A (ascending half step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to A# (descending major third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to B (descending major third), B to D (ascending minor third). 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 unison.

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 · 47 bars · Form: A

Chords: D6, D♯dim7, Em7, A7♭9, D7, G6, G♯dim7, Am7, D7♭9, A7, D9sus4, Am7/G, D7/G, A♯m7, D♯7, Bm7, D13.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D