When I Fall In Love in Re

Victor Young(1952)balladBallad

When I Fall In Love in Re

When I Fall in Love in D: this timeless romantic ballad flows through clean ii-V-I motion, ideal for singing Bebop Major lines and Dorian phrases. Mixolydian smooths the dominant chords — let the melody lead the improvisation. Chords: DMaj7 – B7b9 – Em7 – A7 – Gm6 – Bm7 – Am7 – D7 – GMaj7 – C7 – D6 – Gm7.

When I Fall In Love in Re

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 B (descending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to B (ascending major third), B to A (descending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to D (ascending whole step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth). 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 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: ABAC

Chords: ReMaj7, Si7♭9, Mim7, La7, Solm6, Sim7, Lam7, Re7, SolMaj7, Do7, Re6, Solm7.

Scales for Improvisation Re major, Re dorian, Re mixolydian, Re bebop major, Re major pentatonic.