Misty in D

Erroll Garner / Johnny Burke(1954)ballad
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C13
G♯m11
C13

Chord Diagrams — Misty in D (Guitar)

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Misty 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 A (descending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to B (ascending major third), B to A (descending whole step), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to G (ascending half step), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to D (ascending 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 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.

ballad4/4 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: DMaj7, D7, Am9, G, C13, Gm9, Bm7, A7, Em7, B7, F♯m7, Gm6, D, D6, Am7, D7♭9, GMaj7, G6, G♯m11, C♯7, Ddim.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D