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Under A Blanket Of Blue 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 F# (ascending major third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to G (ascending major third), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to E (descending minor third), E to B (descending 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 B to E 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.

medium-swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: ABA

Chords: Em7, A7♯5, Dmaj7, F♯m7, B7, A7, D♯dim7, Gm6, D6, D7, Am7, Gmaj7, E7, Bm7.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D