This Masquerade in D

Leon Russell(1972)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
G13
A7♯9♯5
G13
D♯13♯11

Chord Diagrams — This Masquerade in D (Guitar)

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This Masquerade 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 D (ascending unison), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A# (ascending half step), A# to A (descending half step), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to G (descending minor third), G to B (ascending major third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to D# (ascending tritone). 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 D# to D by half 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.

swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: Dm, DmMaj7, Dm7, G13, A♯9, Em7, A7♯9♯5, A♯7, A7, C♯m7, F♯7, Cm7, F7, A♯Maj7, G7, Bm7, E7, AMaj7, Asus4, D♯13♯11.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop minor, D bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D