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How Insensitive in D
How Insensitive in D: Jobim's bossa nova elegy descends chromatically through Melodic Minor and Harmonic Minor territory. Phrygian-flavored dominant chords give the harmony its Brazilian melancholy — keep lines close to the melody. Chords: Dm – C#dim7 – Cm6 – G7/B – A#maj7 – D#maj7#11 – Em7b5 – A7b9 – C#7 – Bdim7 – Cm7 – F7 – Bm7 – E7b9.
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 C# (descending half step), C# to C (descending half step), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to E (ascending half step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to B (descending whole step), B to C (ascending half step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to B (ascending tritone), B to E (ascending perfect fourth). 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.