I Remember Clifford in D

Benny Golson(1957)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — I Remember Clifford in D (Guitar)

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I Remember Clifford 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 G to A (ascending whole step), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to G (descending whole step), G to F (descending whole step), F to E (descending half step), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to A (ascending half step), A to A# (ascending half step), A# to B (ascending half step), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to C# (ascending 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 C# to G by tritone.

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 · 38 bars · Form: A

Chords: G, A9, F♯7, Bm7, Am7, Gm7, Fm7, Em7, Em7/A, A7♭9, D, G♯dim, A7, A♯dim, Bm7/A, G♯m7♭5, C♯7, F♯m7, F♯m7/E, D♯m7♭5, G♯7, F♯m7♭5, B7, C♯m7♭5.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D