Do Re MiC D E

These Are Soulful Days

Massey Cal4/4medium-swing

Chord Diagrams — These Are Soulful Days in D (Guitar)

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These Are Soulful Days 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 E (ascending tritone), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to C (ascending minor third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to A (ascending tritone), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F (descending whole step), F to F (ascending unison), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth). 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 half step.

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 · 32 bars · Form: ABA

Chords: Dm6, Gm7, C7, Fmaj7, A♯maj7, Em7♭5, A7♯9, Cm7, F13, D♯7♯11, Am7, D7, Dm7, G7, F7, Fm7, A♯7, A♯m7, D♯7.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop minor, D bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D