Who composed The Man I Love?

The Man I Love was composed by George Gershwin. It is a ballad standard in 4/4 time. The original key is Eb; this page shows it transposed to D.

What key is The Man I Love in?

The original key of The Man I Love is Eb. The form is AABA with 32 bars. This page shows the chart transposed to D.

What scales work for improvising over The Man I Love?

Recommended scales for The Man I Love 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.

The Man I Love in D

George Gershwin()balladSlowly

Do Re MiC D E

BPM: 120

Chord Diagrams — The Man I Love in D (Guitar)

Display

FingerNoteDegree

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

B7♯5

The Man I Love 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 D to D (ascending unison), D to D (ascending unison), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to B (ascending whole step), B to B (ascending unison), B to G (descending major third), G to A (ascending whole step), A to G (descending whole step), G to F# (descending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to B (descending whole step), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to G (ascending half step). 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 G 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.

ballad4/4 · 32 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: D, D7, Dm7, Am, B7♯5, B7, Gm6, A7, GMaj7, F♯m, Bm7, C♯7, C♯dim, Bm, F♯7, F♯dim, G.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D