Root position D
D – F♯ – A
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-3-1
D Major Chord on Piano
D D F♯ A Formula 1 3 5 3 notes
Notes
What notes are in the D Major chord?
The D Major chord has 3 notes: D, F♯, A. Start on D, go up 4 half steps for the major third, then 3 more for the perfect fifth.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| D | Root | 0 |
| F♯ | Major 3rd | 4 |
| A | Perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play D Major
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion D/F♯
F♯ – A – D
Right hand 1-2-5Left hand 5-3-1
2nd inversion D/A
A – D – F♯
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-2-1
In real music
Songs that use D Major
Pieces from the GOONS sheet music library where D holds for at least two bars of our arrangement (read from the score, root in the bass). These are the 6 where it lasts longest, out of 9.
Where it lives
Keys and scales with D Major
Every key where D is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
In these keys
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the D Major chord?
The D Major chord (D) is made of D, F♯, A. Its formula is 1 3 5 - the root, then the intervals of a major chord.
How do you play D on the piano?
Put your right thumb on D and play the other notes with fingers 1-3-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-3-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of D?
root position D (D F♯ A); 1st inversion D/F♯ (F♯ A D); 2nd inversion D/A (A D F♯).
Play it for real
Hold D and build a progression on it
The GOONS piano studio has up to 88 keys, real piano samples, MIDI keyboard support, chord pads in any key and a sequencer. It comes with the GOONS Studio subscription - start with the 7-day free trial, no card required.