Notes and intervals of D major
- D1 · root
- F♯3 · major third
- A5 · perfect fifth
It's the basic chord of almost any song: it works as a point of arrival (the tonic) and as a passing chord.
Progressions with D
The basic progression: I – IV – V – I
With these three chords you can play along to hundreds of songs in D major.
The pop progression: I – V – vi – IV
It's the backbone of a huge number of ballads, pop songs and reggaeton hits.
Which keys contain D major?
D belongs to 6 keys: in each one it plays a different role depending on the degree (the Roman numeral).
| Key | Degree |
|---|---|
| D major | I |
| G major | V |
| A major | IV |
| E natural minor | VII |
| F♯ natural minor | VI |
| B natural minor | III |
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the D major chord?
D major (D) has 3 notes: D (root), F♯ (major third), A (perfect fifth).
How do you play D major on guitar?
The easiest shape is in open position: x x 0 2 3 2 (from string 6 to string 1). Finger 1 (index) on fret 2 of string 3 (G). Finger 3 (ring) on fret 3 of string 2 (B). Finger 2 (middle) on fret 2 of string 1 (E). Play string 4 open. Don't play strings 6 and 5: strum from string 4.
What is the difference between D major and D minor?
Only the third changes: D major uses F♯ and D minor uses F. That note gives the chord its bright (major) or darker (minor) sound.
How do you write D major as a chord symbol?
It's written D; you'll also see DM or Dmaj. Chord notation uses letter names for notes; their fixed-do solfège equivalents are C = Do, D = Re, E = Mi, F = Fa, G = Sol, A = La, and B = Si.