Who composed Poor Butterfly?

Poor Butterfly was composed by Raymond Hubbell. It is a ballad standard in 4/4 time. The original key is Ab; this page shows it transposed to D.

What key is Poor Butterfly in?

The original key of Poor Butterfly is Ab. The form is ABAC with 30 bars. This page shows the chart transposed to D.

What scales work for improvising over Poor Butterfly?

Recommended scales for Poor Butterfly in D: bebop, bebop major. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays, with context-aware analysis (e.g., Phrygian Dominant over secondary dominants).

How does the interactive backing track work?

The backing track plays with realistic walking bass, drum patterns, and voice-led chord voicings. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays. You can limit the fretboard zone for close-proximity voicings, toggle a reference melody, loop any section, and choose between multiple sound presets. Works for guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and 7 more instruments.

Can I edit the chord chart?

Yes. You can modify the structure, chords, and arrangement of any standard to match your preferred version or create your own reharmonization.

Poor Butterfly in D

Raymond Hubbell()balladModerately Slow

Do Re MiC D E

Section A

♬

F♯7♯5

Section B

♬

F♯7♯5

♬

Section A

♬

F♯7♯5

Section C

♬

BPM: 120

Chord Diagrams — Poor Butterfly in D (Guitar)

Display

FingerNoteDegree

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

F♯7♯5

Poor Butterfly 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 E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to B (descending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to G (ascending minor third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F# (ascending tritone), F# to D (descending major third). 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 E 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.

ballad4/4 · 30 bars · Form: ABAC

Chords: Em7, A7, DMaj7, F♯7♯5, B7, C♯m7♭5, Bm7, E7, Gm7, C7, F♯m7, D.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D