Chords in the key of D major
Stacking thirds on each note of the major scale gives these chords. The Roman numeral shows each chord's job in the key: uppercase is major, lowercase is minor, and ° is diminished.
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| I | D | Dmaj7 |
| ii | Em | Em7 |
| iii | F♯m | F♯m7 |
| IV | G | Gmaj7 |
| V | A | A7 |
| vi | Bm | Bm7 |
| vii° | C♯° | C♯ø7 |
Chord names link to guitar shapes. For the same chords on ukulele, or for every chord in every key at a glance, see the chord chart.
Key signature of D major
D major has 2 sharps: F♯, C♯. Every F, C in the music is played as a sharp unless marked otherwise. The relative minor key, B minor, uses exactly the same signature. See all of them on the key signature chart and circle of fifths.
Common chord progressions in D major
These popular progressions, written out in the key of D major:
- The four-chord pop progression (I–V–vi–IV): D A Bm G Piano fingering →
- Three-chord classic (I–IV–V–I): D G A D Piano fingering →
- 50s doo-wop (I–vi–IV–V): D Bm G A Piano fingering →
- Jazz ii–V–I (ii7–V7–Imaj7): Em7 A7 Dmaj7 Piano fingering →
The "piano fingering" links show the smoothest inversions for each progression. To change a song into D major, use the chord transposer.
Playing D major on guitar: which capo?
D major already uses friendly open chords, so you can play it with no capo: D, Em, G, A are all easy shapes. See every capo position for D major →
Related keys
- Relative minor: B minor (2 sharps: F♯ C♯)
- Parallel key (same tonic): D minor (1 flat: B♭)
- Dominant key (a fifth up): A major (3 sharps: F♯ C♯ G♯)
- Subdominant key (a fifth down): G major (1 sharp: F♯)
Closely related keys differ by at most one sharp or flat, which is why songs modulate between them so easily. Explore them with the relative key finder.
Learn the key of D major
- The full D major scale page has the formula, degree names and practice tips.
- Work out the key of a progression with the chords to key finder.
- Practise spotting keys with Name That Key, and degrees with Scale Degree Names.
Frequently asked questions
What chords are in the key of D major?
The triads are I D, ii Em, iii F♯m, IV G, V A, vi Bm, vii° C♯°. With seventh chords: Dmaj7, Em7, F♯m7, Gmaj7, A7, Bm7, C♯ø7.
What notes are in D major?
D major uses the notes D E F♯ G A B C♯.
How many sharps does D major have?
D major has 2 sharps: F♯ C♯.
What is the relative minor of D major?
The relative minor of D major is B minor. They share the same key signature and the same notes.
What are common chord progressions in D major?
I–V–vi–IV: D, A, Bm, G. I–IV–V–I: D, G, A, D. I–vi–IV–V: D, Bm, G, A. ii7–V7–Imaj7: Em7, A7, Dmaj7.
Which capo position makes D major easy to play on guitar?
D major already uses friendly open chords, so no capo is needed.