Moonlight in Vermont in D

Karl Suessdorf()swingFreely
Do Re MiC D E
A
A
B
A
G♯m11
G♯m11
G9♯11
Am11
Am11
A7♯5♭9

Chord Diagrams — Moonlight in Vermont in D (Guitar)

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Moonlight in Vermont in D

Moonlight in Vermont 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 B (descending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D# (descending half step), D# to C (descending minor third), C to A (descending minor third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to G# (descending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to G (ascending half step), G to G (ascending unison), G to F# (descending half step), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to D (ascending tritone), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A (ascending whole 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 A to D 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.

swing2/2 · 26 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: D6, Bm7, Em7, D♯7♯9, C9, A11, D, A7, G♯m11, C♯7, F♯Maj7, Gdim7, G9♯11, F♯6, Am11, D7, GMaj7, G♯dim7, D9, G, A7♯5♭9.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D