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Soloing/Bass Lines: Experiment with the notes above throughout the song, but focus on the Chord Notes of each chord being played.

Chord NameRoman Num.Chord Notes
D Major (D)ID, F#, A
C Major (C)bVIIC, E, G
G Major (G)IVG, B, D
A Major (A)VA, C#, E

In Fretboard Toolboxes, anything in italics is outside of the key!

Soloing/Bass Lines: Experiment with the notes above throughout the song, but focus on the Chord Notes of each chord being played.

Chord NameRoman Num.Chord Notes
E minor (Em)iiE, G, B
A Major (A)VA, C#, E
D Major (D)ID, F#, A

This chord progression is the backbone of jazz, and it also 

comes straight from the circle of fifths.  Learn more "here".

Soloing/Bass Lines: Experiment with the notes above throughout the song, but focus on the Chord Notes of each chord being played.

Chord NameRoman Num.Chord Notes
D Major (D)ID, F#, A
F# minor (F#m)iiiF#, A, C#
E minor (Em)iiE, G, B
A Major (A)VA, C#, E

"I" chords are the sound of "home", where tension is resolved.  :-)

  Now see how many of these chord progressions you can play along with when you don't know which track is coming up next! Use the Roman numerals that show up in the audio player as your clues & practice learning those Roman numerals here!  

  This is where you really start going a long ways towards training your ear and building the muscle memory you need to play songs "on the fly"! 

​Scale degree1
2
34
5
6
7
D Major scaleD
E
F#G
A
B
C#


Chord NameRoman Num.Chord Notes
D Major (D)ID, F#, A
F#(7)III(7)F#, A#, C#, (E)
B(7)VI(7)B, D#, F#, (A)
E(7)
II(7)
E, G#, B, (D)
A(7)V(7)A, C#, E, (G)


Learn how the Circle of Fifths works and you'll start finding

TONS of chord changes within songs that "follow" the circle!  :-)

Scale degree1
2
34
5
6
7
D Major scaleD
E
F#G
A
B
C#


Chord NameRoman Num.Chord Notes
D Major (D)ID, F#, A
F# Major (F#)IIIF#, A#, C#
G Major (G)IVG, B, D
G minor (Gm)ivG, Bb, D
A Major (A)VA, C#, E


Going from I to a Major III chord has a really cool ragtime-y sound.  The IV to iv (minor) chord change is beautifully sad!  :-)

Scale degree1
2
34
5
6
7
D Major scaleD
E
F#G
A
B
C#


Chord NameRoman Num.Chord Notes
D Major (D)ID, F#, A
E Major (E)IIE, G#, B
G Major (G)IVG, B, D
A Major (AVA, C#, E


​​​​Major II chords (a.k.a. V of V chords) often lead to V chords

because that follows the Circle of Fifths.  Learn more "here".

Scale degree1
2
34
5
6
7
D Major scaleD
E
F#G
A
B
C#
Scale degree1
2
34
5
6
7
D Major scaleD
E
F#G
A
B
C#
Scale degree1
2
34
5
6
7
D Major scaleD
E
F#G
A
B
C#

All of this page's Tracks on Shuffle!


  • D I iii ii V 075bpm1:11
  • D I III VI II V 144bpm0:56
  • D I III VI II V 120bpm1:07
  • D I III VI II V 096bpm1:24
  • D I III IV iv 120bpm1:00
  • D I II IV V 100bpm1:10
  • D I II IV V 120bpm0:58
  • D I III IV iv 080bpm1:32
  • D I III IV iv 100bpm1:13
  • D I II IV V 080bpm1:28
  • D I bVII IV V 144bpm1:02
  • D I bVII IV V 120bpm1:15
  • D I bVII IV V 096bpm1:34
  • D I iii ii V 090bpm0:59
  • D ii V I 080bpm1:24
  • D ii V I 100bpm1:07
  • D ii V I 120bpm0:56
  • D I iii ii V 060bpm1:30
  • D I III VI II V 077bpm1:46
  • D I III IV iv 064bpm1:55
  • D I II IV V 064bpm1:50
  • D I bVII IV V 077bpm1:57
  • D ii V I 064bpm1:46
  • D I iii ii V 048bpm1:52

  • D I III VI II V 077bpm1:46
  • D I III VI II V 096bpm1:24
  • D I III VI II V 120bpm1:07
  • D I III VI II V 144bpm0:56

Track #6: D-F#(7)-B(7)-E(7)-A(7)

I-III(7)-VI(7)-II(7)-V(7); turnaround = I-V


  • D I III IV iv 064bpm1:55
  • D I III IV iv 080bpm1:32
  • D I III IV iv 100bpm1:13
  • D I III IV iv 120bpm1:00

Track #5: D-F#-G-Gm

I-III-IV-iv; turnaround= I-V-I-V


  • D I II IV V 064bpm1:50
  • D I II IV V 080bpm1:28
  • D I II IV V 100bpm1:10
  • D I II IV V 120bpm0:58

Track #4: D-E-G-A

I-II-IV-V


  • D I bVII IV V 077bpm1:57
  • D I bVII IV V 096bpm1:34
  • D I bVII IV V 120bpm1:15
  • D I bVII IV V 144bpm1:02

  • D ii V I 064bpm1:46
  • D ii V I 080bpm1:24
  • D ii V I 100bpm1:07
  • D ii V I 120bpm0:56

More Key of D Major Chord Progressions

Track #3: D-C-G-A

I-bVII-IV-V


Track #2: Em-A-D

ii-V-I


Track #1: D-F#m-Em-A

I-iii-ii-V 

For these key of D Major tracks, try these scales:
D Major: DEF#, G, AB, C# (the notes in white boxes)
D Major pentatonic: DEF#AB (the underlined notes)

       See these scales with a Fretboard Toolbox:

  • Use page 25 of any Complete Edition
  • Use pages 15-18 of any Essential Edition







  • D I iii ii V 048bpm1:52
  • D I iii ii V 060bpm1:30
  • D I iii ii V 075bpm1:11
  • D I iii ii V 090bpm0:59