D Major Chord: Guitar, Piano and Notes
The D Major chord is built on the root note D. Its notes are D, F♯ and A.
Major chords feel bright, stable and resolved. A root, a major third and a perfect fifth give them a happy, confident sound. Most popular music is built on them.
D Major on piano
Switch to the interactive diagram to hear the chord, change voicing and swap finger numbers for note names.
To play D Major on piano, place your right-hand thumb on D, middle finger on F♯, and little finger on A. Press the keys together and listen for an even sound. Practice moving in and out of the chord slowly, then bring in a metronome.
D Major on guitar
Switch to the interactive diagram to hear the chord, change voicing and swap finger numbers for note names.
On guitar, D Major is commonly played with the voicing shown above. Strum only the strings marked as active in the diagram.
Play the chord
D Major chord notes
| Degree | Interval | Semitones | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Root | 0 | D |
| 3 | Major third | 4 | F♯(F#) |
| 5 | Perfect fifth | 7 | A |
How to use the D Major chord
The D Major chord is built from a root, a major third and a perfect fifth. Start at the root D and stack the intervals to get the whole chord: D, F♯ and A. The same formula gives you the chord in any other key.
You'll find major chords in almost every style of popular music: rock anthems, country ballads, pop hits and hymns. They commonly appear as the I, IV and V chords in a major key.
Famous Songs in D Major
These well-known tracks all feature the D Major chord - a great way to put it in musical context.
- 1Sweet Child O MineGuns N Roses
- 2Here Comes the SunThe Beatles
- 3Livin on a PrayerBon Jovi
- 4Breakfast at TiffanysDeep Blue Something
- 5Brown Eyed GirlVan Morrison
Common progressions
The D Major chord works beautifully in these progressions. Click a chord name to jump to its page.
Scales that contain D
These scales include D as one of their diatonic chords. Use them to find melodies and improvisation ideas that fit perfectly.
Related chords to D Major
Once D Major feels comfortable, the chords below open up new progressions. Each one shares notes, keys or a harmonic function with it, which is what makes it the natural place to go next.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the D Major chord?
Is the D Major chord major or minor?
How do you play D Major on piano?
How do you play D Major on guitar?
What chords work well with D Major?
Keep exploring
Deepen your understanding of the D Major chord with our other music theory tools.