D Major Chord on Piano
The D chord (D major) is built from 3 notes: D – F# – A.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from D | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | 1 | root | 0 |
| F# | 3 | major 3rd | 4 |
| A | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 3 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | D – F# – A | D in the bass |
| 1st inversion | F# – A – D | F# in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | A – D – F# | A in the bass |
How the major chord is built
Every major chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), 3 (4 semitones), 5 (7 semitones). Starting on D and applying that formula produces D, F#, A. Learn the formula once and you can build a major chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain D
Every note of D belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on D
Major chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a D chord?
A D chord contains the notes D, F#, A. Those are the 1, 3, 5 degrees measured from the root note D.
How do you play D on piano?
Place your thumb on D, then add F# and A above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–3–5.