D major (D) chord on piano

Major triad on D: the notes of the D chord are D – F♯ – A.

Root position: D4 – F♯4 – A4

What the D chord sounds like

A major triad sounds stable and bright: root, major third and perfect fifth. Most songs are built on major chords – in a major key, chords I, IV and V are all major.

Notes of the D chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	D	root
3	F♯	major third (4 semitones)
5	A	perfect fifth (7 semitones)

Root position and inversions

An inversion uses the same notes, with a different note at the bottom. When you change chords, choosing the nearest inversion keeps your hand almost still.

Root position

D4 – F♯4 – A4

1st inversion

F♯4 – A4 – D5

2nd inversion

A4 – D5 – F♯5

Which keys is it in?

The D chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

D major: I (tonic)
G major: V (dominant)
A major: IV (subdominant)
G minor: V (dominant)
E minor: VII
B minor: III
F♯ minor: VI

Similar chords and substitutes

If D is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

Bm – relative minor: two shared notes, a common stand-in for the tonic
F♯m – mediant minor (iii): two shared notes
Dmaj7 – a softer, jazzier tonic colour
Dsus4 – suspended version that resolves back to this chord

Richer versions

D7 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
Dmaj7 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
D6 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
Dadd9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the D chord?

D, F♯, A. The root is D; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major third, perfect fifth.

How do I play the D chord on piano?

In root position, the right hand usually plays with fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger, little finger); four-note chords with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5. The left hand mirrors this: 5, 3, 1. In an inversion the top or bottom note moves to the other side, so your hand moves less when you change chords.

How is the D chord written?

The chord symbol is D, and its full name is D major.