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Look To The Sky in D
Look To The Sky in D — Antonio Carlos Jobim's bossa nova classic. Explore Bebop Major and Lydian scales over these sophisticated changes. Chords: Dmaj9 – Dm9 – Dm6/9 – F#m7 – B7b9 – Em9 – C9sus – C7b9 – Fdim – A7b9 – Fmaj9 – D#maj9 – A13b9.
Look To The Sky 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 D (ascending unison), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to C (descending major third), C to C (ascending unison), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A (ascending major third), A to F (descending major third), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to A (ascending tritone). 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 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.