Sweet Sue, Just You in D

Victor Young / Will J. Harris(1928)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Sweet Sue, Just You in D (Guitar)

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Sweet Sue, Just You 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 E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to B (ascending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to G (ascending minor third), G to G (ascending unison). 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 G to E by minor 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.

swing2/2 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Em7, A7, D6, D, Am7, B7, Em, Gm6, G7.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D