Molten Glass in D

Joe Farrell()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C♭Maj7
EMaj7♯11
DMaj7♯11
CMaj7♯11
A♯Maj7♯11

Chord Diagrams — Molten Glass in D (Guitar)

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Molten Glass 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 G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A# (descending half step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to F (ascending whole step), F to G (ascending whole step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to E (descending half step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A# (ascending half step), A# to Cb (ascending whole step), Cb to G# (descending major third), G# to E (descending major third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to F# (ascending minor third), F# to E (descending whole step), E to D (descending whole step), D to C (descending whole step), C to A# (descending whole step). 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 A# to D 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 · 16 bars · Form: AB

Chords: DMaj7, GMaj7, C♯m7♭5, F♯7♭9, BMaj7, A♯m7♭5, D♯7, Fm7, Gm7♭5, C7♭9, FMaj7, Em7♭5, A7♭9, A♯Maj7, C♭Maj7, G♯Maj7, EMaj7, AMaj7, D♯Maj7, F♯Maj7, EMaj7♯11, DMaj7♯11, CMaj7♯11, A♯Maj7♯11.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D