Let's follow the thought processes of chording this phrase.
The first bass note is C.
The note directly above C is G, the 5th of C.
The chord is C something.
The notes above the bass note are G, E, C, Bb and Db.
| D.S (C) = | C | D | E | F | G | A | B | C | ||
| C | G | = C (no 3rd) | ||||||||
| C | E | G | = C | |||||||
| C | E | G | Bb | = C7 | ||||||
| C | E | G | Bb | Db | = C7b9 |
The second bass note is C#.
The note directly above C# is G, the b5th of C.
Check to see if the chord is C#dim or C#m7b5.
The notes above the bass note are E, G and Bb.
| D.S (C#) = | C# | D# | E# | F# | G# | A# | B# | C# | |
| C# | G | = C#b5 (no 3rd) | |||||||
| C# | E | G | = C#mb5 | ||||||
| C# | E | G | Bb | = C#dim |
The third bass note is D.
See how the bass line is moving up in semitones. That kind of writing
always sounds great.
The note directly above D is A, the 5th of D.
The chord is D something.
The notes above the bass note are A, C, A, F and D.
| D.S (D) = | D | E | F# | G | A | B | C# | D | |
| D | A | = D (no 3rd) | |||||||
| D | F | A | = Dm | ||||||
| D | F | A | C | = Dm7 |
The fourth bass note is D.
The note directly above D is Ab, the b5th of D.
Check to see if the chord is Ddim or Dm7b5.
The notes above the bass note are Ab, F, B, Ab and D.
| D.S (D) = | D | E | F# | G | A | B | C# | D | |
| D | Ab | = D(b5) (no 3rd) | |||||||
| D | F | Ab | = Dmb5 | ||||||
| D | F | Ab | B | = Ddim |

"Become an arranger first, then an orchestrator, and then a composer." - Joe Paparone

Joe Paparone is an Australian music arranger of the highest international calibre. Allow him to share 35 years of real world experiences with you.