akousia
Start here

D Major Chord

D major brings D, F sharp and A together. It can close a phrase in D major or point toward G in G major. Its open guitar grip lets you test both roles without changing the chord itself.

  • Notes: D-F sharp-A
  • Symbol: D
  • Home chord of D major
  • Leads to G
Switch chordD

How to play a D major chord

Notes: D - F# - A · symbol D

  • Root position

    D - F# - A
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 1st inversion

    F# - A - D
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 2nd inversion

    A - D - F#
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-2-1

Where does D major belong?

All three notes come from the D major scale, so D major is the home chord of that key.
Press play on the role cards to hear the same chord do different jobs elsewhere; Diatonic Chords explains the numbered roles.

  • In D majorHome
    I

    A song in D major keeps coming back to this chord.

    GIVAVDI
  • In G majorTension
    V

    It pulls back to G: F sharp wants to rise one half step to G.

    GICIVDVGI
  • In A majorA step away
    IV

    A warm move away from A, softer than the V that follows.

    AIDIVEVAI
  • In G minorMinor-key dominant
    V

    Harmonic minor raises the third to F sharp, so Gm sounds truly finished.

    GmiCmivDVGmi

Progressions to try

  • DGAD

    I-IV-V-I in D major makes the last D feel settled.

  • DABmG

    The I-V-vi-IV loop reaches B minor before G turns it around.

  • GCDG

    D acts as V in G major; hear the final D-to-G move.

  • GmCmDGm

    D is the major V in G minor, with F sharp pulling toward G.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, The open xx0232 works next to G and A without moving up the neck. Use x57775 when a higher barre shape fits the passage.

On ukulele, 2220 leaves the A string open. The 7655 grip shifts the chord higher.

On piano, choose the first inversion when coming from the nearby chord G-B-D. Play D as F sharp-A-D: D stays in place while G moves to F sharp and B moves to A.

What are the inversions?

D is the root. F sharp is the major third, four semitones above it; A is the fifth, seven semitones above it.

  • Root position: D-F sharp-A, with D lowest.
  • First inversion: F sharp-A-D, written D/F# when F sharp is the lowest note.
  • Second inversion: A-D-F sharp, written D/A when A is the lowest note.

A separate bass instrument can change the lowest note even when the right hand plays an inversion. Chord Inversions explains what the slash tells the player.

How does D minor differ?

Keep D and A; lower only F sharp to F. The result is D-F-A, the D minor chord. Use the comparer to hear that single change before judging the whole sound.

  • D

    D - F# - A
    C4

    D major

  • Dm

    D - F - A
    C4

    D minor

Try another chord