I Thought About You in D

Jimmy Van Heusen / Johnny Mercer(1939)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
C9♯11
F13
Em7/D
C♯m7♭5add9add11
A13
C9♯11
F13
Em7/D
C♯m7♭5add9add11
G♯m7♭5add9add11

Chord Diagrams — I Thought About You in D (Guitar)

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I Thought About You 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 F (ascending half step), F to E (descending half step), E to E (ascending unison), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to G (ascending unison), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to A (descending minor third), A to G# (descending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F (descending half step), F to A (ascending major third), A to B (ascending whole step), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to G (descending half 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.

swing2/2 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: DMaj7, C♯7, C9♯11, B7♭9, E9, F13, Em7, Em7/D, C♯m7♭5add9add11, F♯7♭9, Bm7, Am7, D7, GMaj7, G6, Gm7, C7, A7, G♯m7♭5, C♯7♭9, F♯m7, F7, A13, Bm/A, G♯m7♭5add9add11, G7♯11.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D