All Of Me in D

All Of Me in D

One of the most recognizable jazz standards from the Great American Songbook, All Of Me is an ideal beginner tune with clear harmonic movement through secondary dominants.

All Of Me 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 F# (ascending major third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to G (ascending unison), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to F# (ascending major third). 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 F# to D by major third.

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.