D major scale on piano
The D major scale uses the notes D - E - F♯ - G - A - B - C♯ and has 2 sharps.
Numbers on the keys are right-hand fingers (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger).
D major scale fingering
| Hand | D | E | F♯ | G | A | B | C♯ | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Practice each hand alone, slowly, until the thumb crossing feels smooth. Then play hands together at a tempo where you make no mistakes, and raise it a little each day.
Chords in D major
Build a triad on every note of the scale and you get the seven chords that belong to this key:
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I | D major | D - F♯ - A |
| ii | E minor | E - G - B |
| iii | F♯ minor | F♯ - A - C♯ |
| IV | G major | G - B - D |
| V | A major | A - C♯ - E |
| vi | B minor | B - D - F♯ |
| vii° | C♯ diminished | C♯ - E - G |
The most common progression in pop music in this key is D - A - Bm - G (I - V - vi - IV).
Relative key
B minor is the relative minor of D major. Both scales use the same notes; they simply start on a different note, which changes the mood.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the D major scale?
D major: D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯, D.
How many sharps or flats are in D major?
D major has 2 sharps (F♯, C♯).
What is the relative minor of D major?
B minor. It shares the same notes and key signature as D major.