Smoke gets in your Eyes in D

Jerome Kern Otto Harbach()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C♭Maj7
C♭Maj7
Em7/A
F♯7♯5
D69

Chord Diagrams — Smoke gets in your Eyes in D (Guitar)

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Smoke gets in your Eyes 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 F# (ascending major third), F# to F (descending half step), F to E (descending half step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to G (ascending half step), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to B (ascending unison), B to C (ascending half step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to Cb (descending perfect fourth), Cb to G (descending perfect fourth), G to B (ascending major third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to B (descending minor third), B to A (descending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C (descending whole step), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to D (ascending half step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The mix of stepwise and leap motion balances smoothness with harmonic drive. When the progression loops, the bass returns from D to D 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 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: D, F♯m7, Fdim7, Em7, A7, F♯7♯5, GMaj7, G♯dim7, Bm7, B7, Cm7, F7, C♭Maj7, Gm7, Bdim7, Em7/A, DMaj7, B7♭9, A9, D6, C6, C♯6, D69.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D