D major runs D – E – F♯ – G – A – B – C♯ – D. Major follows whole–whole–half–whole–whole–whole–half steps. The key signature is 2 sharps (F♯, C♯). F♯, C♯ are black keys; the other 5 scale notes are played on white keys. The last D is the first note again, one octave higher.
D major notes and fingering
Fingers are numbered 1 (thumb) to 5 (little finger). These are the one-octave ascending fingerings for the major form, one hand at a time:
| Notes | 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 |
Fingering source: LearnMusicTheory.net, “Major and Natural Minor Scales for Piano,” §2.7.
Play slowly until every note has the same length. At a 1 in the middle of the right-hand row, pass the thumb underneath. At a 3 or 4 after left-hand 1, cross that finger over. Descend by reversing the same finger numbers. Keep your hand loose where it crosses.
Key signature and relative key
D major has 2 sharps (F♯, C♯). Its relative minor is B minor. The relative minor starts on B, three half steps below D. They share a key signature and the same seven notes.
Hear the two half steps
The smallest moves in D major are F♯ to G and C♯ to the upper D. Each pair is one neighboring piano key apart. All the other moves between adjacent scale degrees are whole steps, two neighboring keys apart. Play just those half-step pairs, then play the full scale slowly to hear where they fall.
Next, stop on A, degree 5, before finishing at the upper D. Compare that pause with stopping on degree 3, F♯. The fifth feels open because the melody has not returned to its starting note; the last note gives the phrase a clear landing. Try the I and V chords below after you hear that motion in the single-note scale.
The seven chords in D major
Stack every other scale note to make three-note chords. The Roman numeral tells you which degree supplies the root; upper-case numerals are major, lower-case are minor, and ° means diminished.
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I | D | D · F♯ · A |
| ii | Em | E · G · B |
| iii | F♯m | F♯ · A · C♯ |
| IV | G | G · B · D |
| V | A | A · C♯ · E |
| vi | Bm | B · D · F♯ |
| vii° | C♯dim | C♯ · E · G |
The last chord, vii°, is diminished because its outer notes are six half steps apart.
Progressions to try
- I – IV – V – I: D – G – A – D. Play each chord for four beats.
- I – V – vi – IV: D – A – Bm – G. This loop gives the same scale notes a different sense of arrival.
Play the scale up and down, then try each progression without leaving the key. Start one hand at a time, and use the highlighted keyboard above to check any note. The scale finder and piano chord finder let you compare other keys.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the D major scale?
D major is D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯, D. Its key signature is 2 sharps (F♯, C♯).
What fingers play the D major scale?
Ascending one octave, right hand: 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5; left hand: 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1. Reverse the order to descend. These fingerings are for major.
What is the relative minor of D major?
B minor. The keys share 2 sharps (F♯, C♯) and the same seven notes.