Common
About the D Major scale
D Major is used for anthems, pop hooks, hymns and anything that should feel uplifting and stable. Think of it as the bright, resolved, "happy" sound that anchors most pop, folk and classical music. It is D Lydian with the fourth lowered.
Its notes are D, E, F♯, G, A, B, and C♯. The formula is W W H W W W H.
Also called the Ionian mode, Diatonic Major, and Bilawal.
Two of the notes in D Major are black keys, F♯ and C♯.
Chords in the key of D Major
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
D over F sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E minor over G (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F sharp minor over A (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G over B (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
A over C sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B minor over D (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
C sharp diminished over E (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in D Major
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
D major seven
E minor seven
F sharp minor seven
G major seven
A seven
B minor seven
C sharp minor seven flat five
Progressions in D Major
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | DD | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | EE | Major 2nd |
| 3 | F#F♯ | Major 3rd |
| 4 | GG | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | AA | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | BB | Major 6th |
| 7 | C#C♯ | Major 7th |
| Steps | W W H W W W H |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-2-1-2-2-2-1 |
| Degrees | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
Fingering
Standard fingering
| Hand | D | E | F sharp | G | A | B | C sharp | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Practicing it
G is the note the right thumb passes under to reach. The left hand crosses over its thumb on A. The hands are mirror images here, so a contrary-motion octave out from D takes matching fingers in both. The black keys F♯ and C♯ fall to the long fingers, anchored by the fourth finger on C♯, which leaves the thumb on white keys throughout.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
The relative minor is B Natural Minor scale.
Major in other keys
C Major scaleD flat Major scaleE flat Major scaleE Major scaleF Major scaleG flat Major scaleG Major scaleA flat Major scaleA Major scaleB flat Major scaleB Major scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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