There'll Be Some Changes Made in D

Benton Overstreet / Billy Higgins(1921)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — There'll Be Some Changes Made in D (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree

There'll Be Some Changes Made 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 B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to E (descending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C (descending whole step), C to B (descending half step), B to D (ascending minor third), D to C# (descending 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 C# to B 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.

swing2/2 · 19 bars · Form: A

Chords: B9, E9, F♯7, Em7, A7, D6, C7, B7, D, C♯7.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D