Prelude in E Minor in D

Frédéric Chopin / Mulligan(1839)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
A7♭9sus4
D♯Maj7♯11
A♯Maj7♯5
A7♭9sus4
A♯Maj7♯11
A♯Maj7♯11
A7♯5
D7♯5
A♯Maj7♯11
A7♭9sus4
A♯Maj7♯11
A7♭9sus4
A7♭9sus4
Asus4♭9

Chord Diagrams — Prelude in E Minor in D (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
Dm
EADGBExx231
5frEADGBE1113426frEADGBEx4231x10frEADGBE111134
A7♭9sus4
A - D - E - G - B♭
A7♭9
EADGBE11x23
5frEADGBE1114236frEADGBE11xx2311frEADGBE11x234
D♯7♯11
EADGBExx1234
5frEADGBE11x2346frEADGBE11x23x10frEADGBE111234
D♯Maj7♯11
D♯m6
EADGBE111x32
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111234
D7♭9
2frEADGBExx431
4frEADGBE11x2345frEADGBE11x248frEADGBE3241xx
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
G7♭9
EADGBE11324
EADGBE111x234frEADGBE11xx239frEADGBE11x234
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
Gm6
EADGBE2222x1
3frEADGBE1112345frEADGBE111x328frEADGBE11x324
C9
EADGBE222221
7frEADGBE1123447frEADGBE1113249frEADGBExx2143
C♯dim7
EADGBExx1324
3frEADGBE11x2348frEADGBE112x3x11frEADGBExx1324
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
F7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
F7♭9
EADGBE111423
EADGBE11xx237frEADGBE11x23411frEADGBE3241xx
A♯Maj7♯5
A♯Maj7
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111xx46frEADGBE1114238frEADGBE11333x
A♯Maj7♯11
A7♯5
EADGBEx321
EADGBE11x235frEADGBE11x237frEADGBExx1423
Em7♭5
EADGBE33312
7frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBE11xx2411frEADGBE2x341x
D♯m7♭5
EADGBE222xx1
6frEADGBEx1324x7frEADGBE11xx2410frEADGBE2x341x
D♯dim
EADGBExx12x3
4frEADGBEx41x236frEADGBEx1243x9frEADGBE31x42x
D7♯5
EADGBExx412
4frEADGBEx213x45frEADGBE11x43210frEADGBE1x234x
Dm9
EADGBE132
3frEADGBE2222x15frEADGBEx142310frEADGBE111134
E7♭9
EADGBE312
4frEADGBE11346frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE3241xx
DmMaj7
EADGBExx231
2frEADGBE11x425frEADGBE11142310frEADGBE111132
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
Dsus4
EADGBExx123
3frEADGBEx3145frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE111234
D
EADGBExx132
2frEADGBE1114325frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE111342
Asus4♭9

Prelude in E Minor 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 A (descending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to D (descending half step), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to G (ascending unison), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to C (descending half step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to F (ascending unison), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to A (descending half step), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to D# (descending half step), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to D (descending half step), D to D (ascending unison), D to E (ascending whole step), E to D (descending whole step), D to A# (descending major third), A# to D (ascending major third), D to D (ascending unison), D to A (descending perfect fourth). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. 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.

swing4/4 · 54 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Dm, A7♭9sus4, A7♭9, D♯7♯11, D♯Maj7♯11, D♯m6, D7♭9, Dm7, G7♭9, Gm7, Gm6, C9, C♯dim7, Cm7, F7, F7♭9, A♯Maj7♯5, A♯Maj7, A♯Maj7♯11, A7♯5, Em7♭5, D♯m7♭5, D♯dim, D7♯5, Dm9, E7♭9, DmMaj7, A♯7, Dsus4, D, Asus4♭9.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop minor, D bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D