Do Re MiC D E

Training

Petrucciani Michel4/4medium-swing

Chord Diagrams — Training in D (Guitar)

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Training 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 G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to G (ascending half step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to E (descending half step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C# (descending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to F (ascending tritone), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to C (ascending major third), C to A# (descending 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 A# to G# by whole 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: AABA

Chords: G♯m7, C♯7, F♯m7, Gm7, C7, Fmaj7, Em7, A7, Dmaj7, C♯m7♭5, F♯7, Bm7, Fm7, A♯7, A♯m7, G♯7, Cm7/B, A♯m7/A.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D