Aquarela do Brasil in D
Aquarela do Brasil in D
Aquarela do Brasil in D — Ary Barroso's samba classic. Explore Bebop Major and Major Pentatonic scales over these sophisticated changes. Chords: D6 – Dm6 – B7(b9) – B7(#9) – Em9 – A9 – DMaj7 – Em7 – G#7b9 – G#(b5) – D7 – C#7 – C7 – B7 – F#MI7(b5) – Emi – Emi(#5) – Emi6 – Emi7 – C9 – C#7(#9)/G# – F#MI7 – BMaj7 – E9 – DMaj9 – A7(#9).
Aquarela do Brasil in 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 B (descending minor third), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to E (ascending whole step), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to D (ascending tritone), D to C# (descending half step), C# to C (descending half step), C to B (descending half step), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole step), E to E (ascending unison), E to E (ascending unison), E to E (ascending unison), E to C (descending major third), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to A (descending perfect fourth). 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 A 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.