D major chord on piano

D · Dmaj · DM — the bright, stable sound most songs are built on.

Notes	D – F♯ – A
Formula	1 – 3 – 5
Symbols	D, Dmaj, DM
Fingering (root position)	Right hand 1 3 5 · Left hand 5 3 1

How to play D major on the piano

Start on D. Add the third (F♯) and the fifth (A). With the right hand use fingers 1 3 5; with the left hand 5 3 1. Press the keys together for the chord, or one after another for an arpeggio.

Inversions

The same notes in a different order: the lowest note changes, the chord stays D major. Inversions let you move between chords with small steps.

Root position

D – F♯ – A · RH 1 3 5 · LH 5 3 1

1st inversion

F♯ – A – D · RH 1 2 5 · LH 5 3 1

2nd inversion

A – D – F♯ · RH 1 3 5 · LH 5 2 1

Which keys use D major

In these keys the chord is built from the notes of the scale itself:

I in D major
VII in E minor
VI in F♯ minor
V in G major
IV in A major
III in B minor

Its relative minor chord is B minor.

Other D chords

D minor D diminished D augmented D sus2 D sus4 D6 D7 D major seventh D minor seventh D diminished seventh D half-diminished

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