Summertime in D
Summertime in D
Summertime in D — Gershwin's minor blues hymn from Porgy and Bess. Dorian works over the static minor vamp; Harmonic Minor sharpens the V7 resolution; Aeolian adds natural melancholy. Changes: Am6 – E7/b – Am6/c – Dm – F – FMaj7 – D#dim – E – B7 – Em6 – E7b5 – Am – D7 – C – D – Dm7/g – AmMaj7 – D9 – Eaug.
Summertime in 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 E (descending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to F (ascending minor third), F to F (ascending unison), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to E (ascending half step), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C (descending whole step), C to D (ascending whole step), D to D (ascending unison), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to E (ascending 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 E to A 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.