Quasimodo in D

Charlie Parker(1947)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
A13
F♯mMaj7add9add11add13
B7♯5
A13♭9

Chord Diagrams — Quasimodo in D (Guitar)

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

swing4/4 · 34 bars · Form: A

Chords: A13, DMaj7, C♯7, Em7, A7, B7♭9, F♯7, Bm7, G♯m7, F♯mMaj7add9add11add13, B7♭5, E7, A6, F♯m7, B7♯5, Am7, D7, G6, C♯m7, G♯m7♭5, Gm6, D6, Em7♭5, A7♭9, A13♭9.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D