The Very Thought of You in D

Ray Noble(1934)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
Aaug7
Aaug7
D/F♯
Bm7/A

Chord Diagrams — The Very Thought of You in D (Guitar)

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The Very Thought of 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 A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to E (ascending whole step), E to F (ascending half step), F to D (descending minor third), D to B (descending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to G (ascending half step), G to B (ascending major third), B to A (descending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth). 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 D 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.

swing4/4 · 22 bars · Form: AB

Chords: A7, DMaj7, Aaug7, D, Em7, Fdim7, D/F♯, Bm9, E9, C♯m7♭5, F♯7, Bm7, Bm7/A, G♯m7♭5, C♯7♭9, F♯m7, GMaj7, B7, A7♭9, D69.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D