Just a Closer Walk with Thee in D

Traditional()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
D/F♯
Ddim/F
D/A

Chord Diagrams — Just a Closer Walk with Thee in D (Guitar)

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Just a Closer Walk with Thee 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 D (ascending unison), D to D (ascending unison), D to E (ascending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to B (ascending whole step), B to D (ascending minor third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to D (ascending tritone). 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 D to D by unison.

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 · 16 bars · Form: A

Chords: D, D/F♯, Ddim/F, Em7, A7, Bm7, D7, G, G♯dim7, D/A.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D