D major chordD

Built from

• Droot
• F♯major 3rd
• A5th

The major 3rd sits four frets above the root and makes the chord sound open and sure of itself.

Hear it in a progression

• The pop progression

  Behind countless hits. Hopeful, then bittersweet. In D major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. DI
  2. AV
  3. Bmvi
  4. GIV

• Three-chord song

  Folk, rock and roll, campfire. In D major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. DI
  2. GIV
  3. AV
  4. DI

• Doo-wop

  Fifties ballad, sweet and nostalgic. In D major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. DI
  2. Bmvi
  3. GIV
  4. AV

Where it goes next

Thinking in D major, where it is the I chord.

• G

  IV. Lifts away from home without leaving it.

• A

  V. Builds tension that wants to come back.

• Bm

  vi. Same key, sadder colour: the relative minor.

• Em

  ii. A gentle step up that sets up the V chord.

Sounds close

• Bm7

  Shares 3 of its notes. Both have D, F♯ and A.

• F♯m

  Shares two notes: a softer swap. Both have F♯ and A.

• Bm

  Its relative minor: same key, sadder. Both have D and F♯.

• Cdim7

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have F♯ and A.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

• D major
• D major pentatonic
• D mixolydian
• D lydian

Keys it lives in

• D majoras I
• G majoras V
• A majoras IV
• F♯ minoras VI
• B minoras III
• E minoras VII