Tea for two in D

Vincent Youmans / Irving Caesar(1924)swing

Tea for two 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 G# (ascending tritone), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to B (ascending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to G (descending major third). 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.

swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: Em7, A7, D, G♯m6, C♯7, G♯m7, F♯, Am6, B7, Em, B7♭9, Gm6.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D