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My Funny Valentine in D
The D reading of My Funny Valentine: built on a descending chromatic bass over a static minor tonic, one of jazz's most haunting devices. Aeolian and Dorian blend naturally; Harmonic Minor is essential over the V7. Changes: Dm – A7/b – Dm7/Bb – Bm7b5 – A#Maj7 – Gm9 – Em7b5 – A7b9 – E7b5b9 – Am7 – D7b5b9 – Gm7b5 – C7b9 – FMaj7 – Gm7 – F – A7#5 – A7 – Dm7 – Cm7 – B7b9 – C#9 – Cm9 – B7b5#9 – C7.
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 A (descending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to B (descending minor third), B to A# (descending half step), A# to G (descending minor third), G to E (descending minor third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to G (ascending whole step), G to F (descending whole step), F to A (ascending major third), A to A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C (descending whole step), C to B (descending half step), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to C (descending half step), C to B (descending half step), B to C (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 C 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.