Alone Together in D

Arthur Schwartz / Howard Dietz(1932)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Alone Together in D (Guitar)

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Alone Together 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 A (descending perfect fourth), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to D (ascending unison), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to G (ascending unison), G to E (descending minor third), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to C (ascending half step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to F (ascending unison), F to A (ascending major third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to A# (descending whole step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. 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 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.

swing4/4 · 33 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Dm, A7♭9, Em7♭5, D, D7♭9, Am7♭5, Gm, Gm7, E7, Bm7, C7, F7, F, A7, DMaj7, Gm7♭5, C7♭9, A♯7.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop minor, D bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D