Mas Que Nada in D

Mas Que Nada in D

Mas Que Nada in D: Jorge Ben Jor's minor samba. Apply Dorian and Harmonic Minor scales to navigate the modal harmony. Chords: Dm7 – G9 – Gmaj7 – C9 – Amaj7 – A7#9 – A9 – A7b9 – A9sus – Fmaj9 – F6 – G7 – C.

Mas Que Nada 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 G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to A (descending minor third), A to A (ascending unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to F (descending major third), F to F (ascending unison), F to G (ascending whole step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth). The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from C 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.