3rd Day Of Christmas - Right Hand Chords For The D Bass Note

Our focus in today’s lesson is on the right hand chords for the D bass note.

This is the third lesson in our twelve days of Christmas series and we’re getting started with the answer to the question “what is a D bass note?”.

“What Is A D Bass Note?”

D is considered as a bass note when it is the lowest-sounding note of any given chord. For example, the lowest-sounding note in the chord below:

…is D:

Although the D bass note can be used in any key, we’ll be considering the D bass note:

…in the key of C major:

D As “The 2” vs D As “The 5-of-5”

The D bass note has two functions in the key of C major:

As “the 2”

As “the 5-of-5”

Let’s go ahead and learn what D as “the 2” means, and also understand how it differs from D as “the 5-of-5”.

D As “The 1”

In the key of C major:

…D is the second tone and has its place in the number system as “the 2”. When the D bass note is functioning as “the 2”, the right hand chord will be a scale-tone chord: be it a triad, seventh, or extended chord.

What this means is that chords associated with the D bass note when it’s functioning as “the 2” are chords in the key you’re in and we’ll be covering those chords shortly.

D As “The 5-of-5”

The term “5-of-5” literally means the dominant of the fifth and this means that D in used as the dominant chord (or passing chord) that resolves to the 5-chord.

The fifth tone in the key of C major is G:

…therefore, D as “the 5-of-5” means that D is resolving to any 5-chord in the key of C major; which includes (but isn’t limited to) any of the following chords:

The G major triad:

The G dominant seventh chord:

The G dominant ninth chord:

So, D bass note as “the 5-of-5” refers to D dominant chord types and we’ll be looking at the right hand chords for the D bass note in subsequent segments.

Right Hand Chords For D As “The 2”

Attention: Right hand chords for the D bass note as “the 2” depends on factors like skill level, musical taste, etc. There are situations that an advanced player may want to use basic chords instead of sophisticated chords.

Basic

Beginners may want to play any of the following right hand chords for the D bass note:

D minor triad (root position):

D minor triad (first inversion):

D minor triad (second inversion):

Intermediate

Intermediate players may want to play right hand chords like:

The F major triad (root position):

The F major triad (first inversion):

The F major triad (second inversion):

Advanced

Advanced players may want to play the following chords:

The F major seventh chord (root position):

The F major seventh chord (second inversion):

…or fourth chords like:

The D 7sus4:

The G 7sus4:

Right Hand Chords For D As “The 5-of-5”

In this segment, you’ll be learning passing chords to the 5-chord in the key of C major.

Attention: Right hand chords for the D bass note as “the 5-of-5” depends on factors like skill level, musical taste, etc. There are situations that an advanced player may want to use basic chords instead of sophisticated chords.