D Major Scale on Guitar
D E F♯ G A B C♯ — two sharps, the fiddle-tune key, and a natural fit for Drop D and DADGAD.
D major
Tap any fret to hear it. Gold dots are the root. Positions start at each scale note on the low string, so position 1 is the lowest box.
Notes and Intervals
| Note | Interval | From the root |
|---|---|---|
| D | R | Root · 0 semitones |
| E | 2 | Major 2nd · 2 semitones |
| F♯ | 3 | Major 3rd · 4 semitones |
| G | 4 | Perfect 4th · 5 semitones |
| A | 5 | Perfect 5th · 7 semitones |
| B | 6 | Major 6th · 9 semitones |
| C♯ | 7 | Major 7th · 11 semitones |
Positions in Standard Tuning
| Position | Frets | Low E string starts on |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0–4 | E |
| 2 | 1–5 | F♯ |
| 3 | 2–6 | G |
| 4 | 4–8 | A |
| 5 | 6–10 | B |
| 6 | 8–12 | C♯ |
| 7 | 9–13 | D · root |
Positions are numbered from the lowest box on the neck, as in the explorer above. Add 12 to any of them for the same shape an octave higher.
About the D Major Scale
The D major scale is D, E, F♯, G, A, B and C♯, with two sharps. It is a bright, resonant key on guitar: the open D, G, A, B and E strings are all in the scale, so open-position melodies ring freely.
D is also the home key of the most popular alternate tunings. In Drop D and DADGAD the low string is a D, so D major songs gain a deep open root to play against.
Finding It on the Fretboard
The scale has 7 notes, so it has 7 positions: five-fret windows that each start on a different scale note on the low E string. The one that starts on the root, D, covers frets 9 to 13. It is the shape most lessons teach first, and the easiest to keep your bearings in, because the root is under your hand on both E strings. Use the position buttons in the explorer to isolate each one, and switch the labels to intervals to see what every fret does in the scale.
Chords in the Scale
Stacking every other note of the scale gives these seven chords. Any of them, and progressions made from them, can be played under the scale:
How to Practise It
- Play the scale in open position, starting on the open D string. The first octave and a half need only the first four frets.
- Switch the explorer's tuning to Drop D and play the scale with the open low D as a drone.
- Practise the scale in sixths on adjacent pairs of strings — a sound common in country and Celtic playing.
- Learn a simple fiddle tune in D by ear over the drone generator.
A steady reference makes every one of these more useful: open the drone generator on D in another tab and play against it.
The Chords of D Major
The chords of D major are D, Em, F♯m, G, A, Bm and C♯°. D, G and A are all open chords, which is why so many folk and bluegrass songs live here, and why the key is a favourite of fiddle players.
Its relative minor is B minor: the same notes, centred on B.
Explore every scale in every key in the scale explorer, or print the free guitar charts to practise away from a screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the notes of the D major scale?
D, E, F♯, G, A, B and C♯. It has two sharps: F♯ and C♯.
What chords are in the key of D?
D, Em, F♯m, G, A, Bm and C♯ diminished.
Is D major good for Drop D tuning?
Very. In Drop D the low string is the root, so you can play D major melodies and chords with a deep open D ringing underneath.