D Major Scale
The D major scale has seven notes: D, E, F♯, G, A, B and C♯. It has 2 sharps (F♯ and C♯), and it is the relative major of B minor.
Notes
- D1
- E2
- F♯3
- G4
- A5
- B6
- C♯7
Step pattern: W – W – H – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step)
| Degree | Note | Interval from D |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Root |
| 2 | E | Major 2nd |
| 3 | F♯ | Major 3rd |
| 4 | G | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | A | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | B | Major 6th |
| 7 | C♯ | Major 7th |
On the piano
On the guitar
Root Scale tone
Key signature
D major has 2 sharps: F♯ C♯. See it on the circle of fifths →
Chords in the key of D major
| Numeral | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| I | D | Dmaj7 |
| ii | Em | Em7 |
| iii | F♯m | F♯m7 |
| IV | G | Gmaj7 |
| V | A | A7 |
| vi | Bm | Bm7 |
| vii° | C♯dim | C♯m7♭5 |
Common progressions
- Three-chordD – G – AI – IV – V
- Pop ("four chords")D – A – Bm – GI – V – vi – IV
- Jazz ii–V–IEm – A – Dii – V – I
- 50s doo-wopD – Bm – G – AI – vi – IV – V
Related scales
Practise it
- G major, three notes per stringTechnique · moved up 7 frets into D
- Legato trills (hammer-ons & pull-offs)Technique · moved up 2 frets into D
- ii–V–I lineJazz · moved up 2 frets into D
Explore it on the full fretboard · Piano scale explorer · Metronome