Who Can I Turn To? in D

Anthony Newley / Leslie Bricusse(1964)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — Who Can I Turn To? in D (Guitar)

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Who Can I Turn To? 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 E (ascending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to G (ascending half step), G to A (ascending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C# (descending half step), C# to B (descending whole step), B to F (ascending tritone), F to B (ascending tritone), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole step), E to D (descending whole step), D to E (ascending whole step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from E to D 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.

swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: D, Em7, A7, DMaj7, F♯m7, GMaj7, Am7, D7, C♯7, Bm7, Fdim, B7, C♯m7♭5, F♯7, E7, D/F♯, Em9.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D