Explore More
Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea 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 E (descending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to G (ascending unison), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to F# (ascending minor third), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to F (ascending minor third), F to E (descending half step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. 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 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.