How to practice Just the Two of Us with play-along tracks?

Use the play-along backing track above to practice Just the Two of Us in the key of D. Listen to the audio with bass, piano, and drums, start by playing the melody, then practice improvisation and soloing over the chord changes.

What scales to use for soloing over Just the Two of Us?

For soloing over Just the Two of Us, recommended scales include: bebop minor, bebop. Use arpeggio patterns over each chord to create melodic lines that follow the harmony of this jazz tune.

Who composed Just the Two of Us?

Just the Two of Us was composed by Bill Withers / Ralph MacDonald / William Salter in 1980. It is a swing standard in 4/4 time. The original key is F; this page shows it transposed to D.

What key is Just the Two of Us in?

The original key of Just the Two of Us is F. The form is A with 24 bars. This page shows the chart transposed to D.

What scales work for improvising over Just the Two of Us?

Recommended scales for Just the Two of Us in D: bebop minor, bebop. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays, with context-aware analysis (e.g., Phrygian Dominant over secondary dominants).

How does the interactive backing track work?

The backing track plays with realistic walking bass, drum patterns, and voice-led chord voicings. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays. You can limit the fretboard zone for close-proximity voicings, toggle a reference melody, loop any section, and choose between multiple sound presets. Works for guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and 7 more instruments.

Can I edit the chord chart?

Yes. You can modify the structure, chords, and arrangement of any standard to match your preferred version or create your own reharmonization.

Just the Two of Us in D

Bill Withers / Ralph MacDonald / William Salter(1980)swing

Do Re MiC D E

BPM: 120

Chord Diagrams — Just the Two of Us in D (Guitar)

Display

FingerNoteDegree

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

A7♯5

A♯Maj7

Cm7

Dm7

A7sus4

G7sus4

F7sus4

D♯69

Just the Two of Us 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 A to A# (ascending half step), A# to F (descending perfect fourth), F to C (descending perfect fourth), C to D (ascending whole step), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to G (descending whole step), G to G (ascending unison), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to F (descending minor third), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to E (ascending half step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to C# (ascending major third). 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 A by major third.

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 · 24 bars · Form: A

Chords: A7♯5, A♯Maj7, F7, Cm7, Dm7, A7, A7sus4, G7, G7sus4, G♯Maj7, F7sus4, F♯Maj7, D♯69, E7♭9, A7♯9, C♯m7.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop minor, D bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D