D

Diatonic Scale

D Major

The brightest, most stable scale — the foundation of Western tonal music.

Notes in D Major

D1
E2
F#3
G4
A5
B6
C#7
D8

Chords in D Major

7 diatonic chords
DegreeChordNotesQuality
IDD – F# – Amajor
iiEmE – G – Bminor
iiiF#mF# – A – C#minor
IVGG – B – Dmajor
VAA – C# – Emajor
viBmB – D – F#minor
viiC#°C# – E – Gdiminished

Other Scales in D

Natural MinorD, E, F, G, A, A#, CHarmonic MinorD, E, F, G, A, A#, C#Melodic MinorD, E, F, G, A, B, C#DorianD, E, F, G, A, B, CPhrygianD, D#, F, G, A, A#, CLydianD, E, F#, G#, A, B, C#MixolydianD, E, F#, G, A, B, CLocrianD, D#, F, G, G#, A#, CMajor PentatonicD, E, F#, A, BMinor PentatonicD, F, G, A, CBluesD, F, G, G#, A, CWhole ToneD, E, F#, G#, A#, CDiminished (H-W)D, D#, F, F#, G#, A, B, CDiminished (W-H)D, E, F, G, G#, A#, B, C#Phrygian DominantD, D#, F#, G, A, A#, CHungarian MinorD, E, F, G#, A, A#, C#Lydian DominantD, E, F#, G#, A, B, C

Major in All 12 Keys

CC D E F G A BC#D♭Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb CDD E F# G A B C#D#E♭Eb F G Ab Bb C DEE F# G# A B C# D#FF G A Bb C D EF#G♭F# G# A# B C# D# FGG A B C D E F#G#A♭Ab Bb C Db Eb F GAA B C# D E F# G#A#B♭Bb C D Eb F G ABB C# D# E F# G# A#

Practice by Ear

Scale RecognitionIdentify the Major scale by ear →Play D MajorHear the scale and practice recognising it →Chord Recognition TrainerIdentify the chords above by ear →Progression TrainerIdentify common progressions in this key →

Chords in D Major

The D major scale contains the notes D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#. The brightest, most stable scale — the foundation of Western tonal music.

The diatonic chords in D major are D (I), Em (ii), F#m (iii), G (IV), A (V), Bm (vi), C#° (vii). These are the chords you can use when writing or improvising in this key — every note in each chord belongs to the D major scale.

To develop your ear for the D major sound, use the scale and chord trainers linked above. Being able to recognise these sounds by ear — not just read them from a chart — is what separates musicians who truly hear music from those who only read it.