La Comparsa in D

Ernesto Lecuona(1929)danzonDanzón ♩= 96
Do Re MiC D E
D
Instrument
GuitarUkuleleBassPiano
A
B
A
Dm
Gm
Dm
A7
Dm
Gm
A7
Dm
D
G
D
A7
D
G
A7
D
Dm
Gm
Dm
A7
Dm
Gm
A7
Dm

Chord Diagrams — La Comparsa in D (Guitar)

La Comparsa in D

Lecuona compuso 'La Comparsa' (1929) para piano, evocando la procesión del carnaval habanero. La estructura ABA — menor→mayor→menor — captura la dualidad del carnaval: alegría y melancolía simultáneas. La sección B en Mi mayor es de una luminosidad repentina que contrasta con el modo menor del A, como si la comparsa pasara frente a un farol.

La Comparsa 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 A (ascending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth). 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 G 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.

danzon4/4 · 24 bars · Form: ABA

Chords: Dm, Gm, A7, D, G.