D, major chord
D, F♯ and A
- Root
- D
- Major third
- F♯
- Perfect fifth
- A
Formula
1 3 5 (4, 7 half steps above D)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | D | F♯ | A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
D major inversions
D major has 2 inversions. Each one keeps the same notes and puts a different one at the bottom, so your hand can stay close to the chord before or after it.
D
Root position
| Notes | D | F♯ | A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
D/F♯
First inversion
| Notes | F♯ | A | D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
D/A
Second inversion
| Notes | A | D | F♯ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Keys with D major
Roman numerals give a chord's place in a key: capitals for major chords, small letters for minor, ° for diminished. D major appears as:
- I in D major
- IV in A major
- V in G major
- VI in F♯ minor
- V in G minor
- III in B minor
- VII in E minor
How D major is built
D is the root, F♯ the major third and A the perfect fifth.
A major chord is a root, the major third 4 half steps above it and the perfect fifth 7 half steps above it. Lower the middle note by one key and D major becomes D minor.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of D major are D, F, A. That is why it is spelled D, F♯ and A.
Find D major yourself
Without looking at the diagrams, find the chord on the keyboard, then each inversion. Saying the notes out loud as you tap them helps them stick.
Step 1 of 3
Tap the notes of D major, in any octave and any order.
Practice D major in real music
MasterPiano gives you new music to read at your level and listens as you play, through a MIDI keyboard or your device's microphone, marking each note right or wrong.
Start freeQuestions
What notes are in the D major chord?
D major (D) has three notes: D, F♯ and A. D is the root, F♯ the major third and A the perfect fifth.
What fingers do you use for D major on piano?
In root position, play D, F♯ and A with right hand fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 3 and 1. The fingers change a little in each inversion; every inversion on this page shows its own.
What are the inversions of D major?
D major has 2 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (D/F♯): F♯, A and D. Second inversion (D/A): A, D and F♯.
What key is D major in?
D major is I in D major, its home key. It also appears as IV in A major, V in G major, VI in F♯ minor, V in G minor and III in B minor.