Chords In The Key Of D Major

What are the basic chords in the key of D major?

Before we answer this question fully, let’s take a look at the D major scale. The notes of the D major scale are D E F# G A B C#. The chords in the key of D major are named after these seven notes. Also, the notes of each chord are limited to these notes.

The pattern for naming major chords in every key is Major Minor Minor Major Major Minor Diminished.

Let’s take a look at the triads and four note chords (with sevenths) in D major.

To learn more about chords by key (what chords are in what key and why), check out my book, Master Piano Chords By Key And Give Yourself A Big Advantage When Playing, Learning Or Writing Songs.

The triads in this key are D major, E minor, F# minor, G major, A major, B minor, and C# diminished.

The four note chords are D major seventh, E minor seventh, F# minor seventh, G major seventh, A dominant seventh, B minor seventh, and C# minor seventh flat five. In terms of the keys played on your instrument, C#m7b5 is the same as C# half diminished.

Roman numerals indicate each chord’s position in the scale. Roman numerals for major chords are capitalized while minor and diminished chords are lower case.

  • I – D major, D major seventh (Dmaj, Dmaj7)
  • ii – E minor, E minor seventh (Em, Em7)
  • iii – F# minor, F# minor seventh (F#m, F#m7)
  • IV – G major, G major seventh (G, Gmaj 7)
  • V – A major, A dominant seventh (A, A7)
  • vi – B minor, B minor seventh (Bm, Bm7)
  • vii° – C# diminished, C# minor seventh flat five (C#°, C#m7b5)

Watch this lesson:

Piano Chords In The Key Of D Major

Here’s a key chord chart showing the triads and four note extended chords in the key of D major.

So what notes do these chords consist of? Let’s continue.

  • Chord I, D major consists of the notes, D – F# – A, while D major seventh consists of the notes, D – F# – A – C#.
  • Chord ii, E minor consists of the notes, E – G – B. E minor seventh consists of the notes, E – G – B – D.
  • Chord iii, F sharp minor contains the notes, F# – A – C#. F# minor seventh contains the notes, F# – A – C# – E.
  • Chord IV, G major contains the notes, G – B – D. G major seventh contains the notes, G – B – D – F#.
  • Chord V, A major contains the notes, A – C# – E. A dominant seventh contains the notes, A – C# – E – G.
  • Chord vi, B minor consists of the notes, B – D – F#. B minor seventh consists of the note, B – D – F# – A.
  • Chord vii°, C# diminished consists of the notes, C# – E – G, while C# minor seventh flat five consists of the notes, C# – E – G – B.

Common chord progressions in the key of D major are as follows:

  • I – IV – V (D – G- A)
  • I – vi – IV – V (D – Bm – G – A)
  • ii – V – I (Em7 – A7 – Dmaj7)

Here’s a diagram of the D major key signature as well as the notes of the D major scale on the treble and bass clefs. The D major scale has two sharps. These sharps are C# (C sharp) and F# (F sharp).

Here is a diagram showing the D major scale on piano. 

Chords By Keys: Go here for information on other major keys and their chords. Find out about minor keys as well.

Be sure to check out the Piano For All piano lessons. It’s my favorite online course for learning how to play piano.

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