Do Re MiC D E

Old Country, The

Adderley-Lewis4/4medium-swing

Chord Diagrams — Old Country, The in D (Guitar)

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Old Country, The 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 perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to G (ascending tritone), G to F (descending whole step), F to G (ascending whole step), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to D (ascending tritone). 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 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.

medium-swing4/4 · 24 bars · Form: A

Chords: Dm7♭5, G7♯9, Cm7, F9, A♯13, D♯7♯9, G♯13, C♯7♯9, G7♭13, Fm7, G7♭9, A♯7, D♯maj7, G♯maj7, D7.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop minor, D bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D