A Ghost of a Chance in D

Ned Washington / Victor Young(1932)ballad
Do Re MiC D E
A
A7♯5
A7♯5
A7♯5
A7♯5

Chord Diagrams — A Ghost of a Chance in D (Guitar)

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A Ghost of a Chance 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 A (descending perfect fourth), A to B (ascending whole step), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to B (ascending major third), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to D (descending major third), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to C# (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 C# 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.

ballad4/4 · 33 bars · Form: A

Chords: D, A7♯5, B7, F♯m7♭5, C7, Gm7, Bm7, F♯m7, A7, Em7, F♯7, D6, G♯m7♭5, C♯7.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D