Wolverine blues in D

Jelly Roll Morton / Benjamin Franklin "Reb" Spikes / John Curry Spikes(1923)blues
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C

Chord Diagrams — Wolverine blues in D (Guitar)

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Wolverine blues 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 D (ascending unison), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to B (ascending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to E (ascending half step), E to G (ascending minor third), G to G (ascending unison). 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 G to D 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.

blues2/2 · 46 bars · Form: ABC

Chords: Ddim, D, A7, B7, E7, D7, G, D6, D♯dim, Em7, G7, Gm6.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D