D major chord on piano
The D major chord is D–F#–A. Tap the keys below to hear it.
DD · F# · A
Tap the keys to hear them
1 = thumb, 5 = little finger.
D major is one of the most common chords on piano, a bright, happy chord that often adds a lift to the progressions it appears in. The F# under your middle finger is the note that separates it from D minor.
How the D major chord is built
Fingerings & inversions
Standard fingerings use the thumb (1), the little finger (5), and either the index (2) or middle finger (3). Hand size and musical context change what feels natural. Switch Fingers on above to see 1-3-5 land for D.
| Position | Notes (bottom → top) | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | D – F# – A | 1-3-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 1st inversion | F# – A – D | 1-2-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 2nd inversion | A – D – F# | 1-3-5 | 5-2-1 |
Inversion diagrams
The inversion buttons above play all 3 shapes of D.
Popular songs to play with the D piano chord
- Another One Bites the Dust by Queen
- Angels by The xx
- Animals by Maroon 5
Songs are where chords start making sense. Skoove takes you from D to full songs, step by step.
Start a piano lesson for freeWhere D shows up
D major is the home chord (I) of D major, a key with two sharps. It also plays the V in G and the IV in A, and its relative minor, B minor, is built from the same scale. Songs in any of these keys make constant use of D.
Try it inside the two progressions that carry most pop songs: D–G–A and D–A–Bm–G.
Common questions
What notes are in the D major chord?
The D major chord is made up of D, F#, A. F#, the black key between F and G, is the only raised note in the shape; D and A stay white.
What fingers should I use to play D on piano?
In root position, the standard fingering is 1-3-5 in the right hand and 5-3-1 in the left hand (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger). D puts finger 3 on F#, the chord's only black key.
What chords are in the key of D major?
The seven diatonic chords in D major are D major, E minor, F# minor, G major, A major, B minor, C# diminished.
What are the notes in the D major scale?
The D major scale is D – E – F# – G – A – B – C# – D. The D chord is built from the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of that scale.
What is the difference between D major and Dmaj7?
Dmaj7 adds the seventh note of the scale, C#, on top of the D–F#–A triad. The extra note gives the chord a richer, warmer sound.
More D chords
Reviewed by
Composer, arranger and music educator. BA Music (LIPA), MA Composition (University of Salford).
Last updated 2026-08-13