Do Re MiC D E

Too Marvelous For Words

Whiting Richard4/4medium-swing

Chord Diagrams — Too Marvelous For Words in D (Guitar)

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Too Marvelous For Words 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 E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F# (descending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to E (ascending major third), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to D (ascending minor third). 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 E 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.

medium-swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: ABA

Chords: Em7, A7, Dmaj7, G7♯11, F♯m7, Bm7, F♯maj7, C♯7, F♯6, Am7, D7, Gmaj7, C7, E7, B7♭9, D6.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D