I Ain't Got Nobody in D

Spencer Williams / Roger A. Graham(1915)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — I Ain't Got Nobody in D (Guitar)

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I Ain't Got Nobody 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 C# (descending half step), C# to C (descending half step), C to B (descending half step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to D (descending whole step), D to B (descending minor third), B to A (descending whole step), A to A (ascending unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to G (ascending minor third), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to A (ascending half step), A to G (descending whole step). 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 G to D by perfect fourth.

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.

swing4/4 · 33 bars · Form: A

Chords: D7, C♯7, C7, B7, E9, E7, D, Bm7, A7, Adim, A, E6, G, G♯dim, Aaug, G7.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D