Ways to play D
Open position first, then up the neck. Tap a shape to put it on the fretboard above and hear it. The numbers are fingers (1 is your index), × means leave that string out, and ○ means let it ring open.
What's in D
A major chord stacks a major 3rd (four half steps) and a perfect 5th (seven half steps) on the root. For D that gives D, F♯ and A. Every shape below is some arrangement of those three notes, with a few doubled in another octave.
| Note | Formula | Interval from D |
|---|---|---|
| D | 1 | Root |
| F♯ | 3 | Major 3rd |
| A | 5 | Perfect 5th |
Major chords sound settled and bright. They are the I, IV and V of every major key, which is why so many songs get by on three of them.
The key of D major
Two sharps (F♯, C♯). D, G, A and Em are open; Bm is the one barre. The open D string works as a drone under every chord in the key.
The seven chords built from the D major scale:
Songs in D major
- Bad Moon Rising, Creedence Clearwater Revival
- With or Without You, U2
- Hey There Delilah, Plain White T's
- Twist and Shout, The Beatles
Keys that use D
Every major and minor key whose scale contains all of D, F♯ and A, and the chord's Roman numeral in each. Minor keys marked harmonic get the chord from the raised 7th of the harmonic minor scale.
| Key | D is the |
|---|---|
| D major | I |
| A major | IV |
| G major | V |
| G minor (harmonic) | V |
| F♯ minor | VI |
| B minor | III |
| E minor | VII |
Progressions to try
Related chords
The relative minor is Bm, which shares its key signature. The parallel minor is Dm, same root with the 3rd lowered.
Other chords on D: