D Major Scale
The D major scale is the brightest, most stable diatonic scale built on D. It's the default 'happy' sound in Western music.
Notes in D Major
The D Major scale contains D — E — F♯ — G — A — B — C♯. The interval pattern is the universal major pattern, transposed to start on D.
How to use it
Open the interactive scale explorer above to see D Major on a piano keyboard, on a guitar fretboard, and to hear it played ascending or descending. The diatonic chord chips show the chords built from this scale.
Common uses
The D major scale is the brightest, most stable diatonic scale built on D. It's the default 'happy' sound in Western music.
FAQs
What chords go with the D Major scale?
Open the scale explorer to see the seven diatonic chords built from this scale. Each chord chip plays back so you can hear the harmony.
How is D Major different from other scales on D?
The intervals between notes are different. D Major uses the major interval pattern; switch to a different scale type in the explorer to hear how the same root sounds with major, minor, pentatonic, blues, and other patterns.
What's the relative key of D Major?
For major and minor scales, the relative is found three semitones away. D major and B minor share the same notes; D minor and F major share the same notes.