Do Re MiC D E

Across The Alley From The Alamo

Joe Greene(1946)2/2swing

Chord Diagrams — Across The Alley From The Alamo in D (Guitar)

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Across The Alley From The Alamo 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 G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A (ascending whole step), A to A (ascending unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to F# (descending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from E to D 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.

swing2/2 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: D, G/F, A7, Adim, A7♭9, Asus4, Em7, D7, G, Gm6, F♯7, Bm, E9.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D