D major chord (D)
D is D, F♯ and A: 1–3–5 built on D. Below: guitar, piano and ukulele, each playable.
On guitar
x-x-0-2-3-2 · open · easy
- Notes
- D · F♯ · A
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5
- First shape
- x-x-0-2-3-2
D on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · D–F♯–A · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- D · F♯ · A
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5
D on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
2-2-2-0 · open · easy
- Notes
- D · F♯ · A
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5
- First shape
- 2-2-2-0
Changing out of D
Three changes cover most of what D does in songs.
- D → G (IV in D major)
Guitar: D (x-x-0-2-3-2) to G (3-2-0-0-0-3): the index finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the low E string, 3rd fret, the ring finger slides across to the high E string at the same fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Listen for D, which stays put while the rest moves.
Piano: D to G: play G in 2nd inversion (D–G–B) and D stays under the same finger, while F♯ moves up to G and A up to B. G - D → A (V in D major)
Guitar: D (x-x-0-2-3-2) to A (x-0-2-2-2-0): the index finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, move the middle finger to the G string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the B string, 2nd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. A carries over from one chord to the other.
Piano: D to A: play A in 1st inversion (C♯–E–A) and A stays under the same finger, while D moves down to C♯ and F♯ down to E. A - D → Bm (vi in D major)
Guitar: D (x-x-0-2-3-2) to Bm (x-2-4-4-3-2): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the B string, 3rd fret, your ring finger lands on the D string, 4th fret, the pinky finger comes down on the G string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared notes: D and F♯.
Piano: D to Bm: play Bm in 1st inversion (D–F♯–B) and D and F♯ stay under the same fingers, while A moves up to B. Bm
Guitar with a capo: capo 2, C shape; capo 5, A shape; capo 7, G shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 2, C shape; capo 4, B♭ shape; capo 5, A shape; capo 7, G shape.
How D is built
A major chord sounds finished and open. D is the "home" chord of D major and turns up as a bright IV or V in the neighboring keys.
Start on D, count 4 half steps up to F♯ then 3 half steps up to A.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | root | 0 | |
| F♯ | major third | 4 | |
| A | perfect fifth | 7 |
Keys and progressions with D
In major keys, D is I in D major, IV in A major and V in G major. In minor keys it is III in B minor, V in G minor (borrowing the raised 7th), VI in F♯ minor and VII in E minor.
D – A – Bm – G: that's I–V–vi–IV in the key of D major. the pop progression
In D major, I–IV–V is D – G – A – D. the three-chord progression
I–vi–IV–V in D major runs D – Bm – G – A. the 50s progression
Play vi–IV–I–V in D major and you get Bm – G – D – A. the minor-feel pop loop
Chords close to D
- D and Dm differ by one note: F♯ in D, F in Dm. They share D and A. Dm
- D and Bm differ by one note: A in D, B in Bm. They share D and F♯. Bm
Chords that share most of their notes with D: D7, Dmaj7, Dadd9, D6, Bm7, D9.
Every D chord
D major chord: questions
What notes are in the D major chord?
D, F♯ and A. D is built 1–3–5 from D: F♯ is the major third and A is the perfect fifth.
How do you play D on guitar?
The usual shape is x-x-0-2-3-2 (open). All 3 guitar shapes.
How do you play D on piano?
Play D, F♯ and A with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. D sits between the two black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play D on ukulele?
2-2-2-0 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is D in?
In major keys, D is I in D major, IV in A major and V in G major. In minor keys it is III in B minor, V in G minor (borrowing the raised 7th), VI in F♯ minor and VII in E minor.
What's the difference between D and Dm?
D and Dm differ by one note: F♯ in D, F in Dm. They share D and A.
All three instruments are drawn and played from D, F♯ and A by the same engine. Updated September 2026.