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I Got Rhythm in D
I Got Rhythm in D — Gershwin's "rhythm changes," the foundation on which bebop was built. Bebop Major rules the A sections; Mixolydian connects the bridge's dominant chain moving in thirds. Changes: D6 – Bm7 – Em7 – A7 – F#m7 – D7 – D7/D – G7 – G#dim7 – D6/F – F#7 – B7 – E7 – G9.
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 B (descending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to D (descending major third), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to D (ascending tritone), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to G (ascending minor third). 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 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.