Guitar scales · Major (Ionian)
D major scale on guitar
The D major scale has seven notes: D, E, F♯, G, A, B and C♯. As degrees: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Notes and pattern
The D major scale
The reference scale. Bright and resolved; every other scale is described against it. Play it to hear it up and down.
From note to note it climbs 2, 2, 1, 2, 2, 2 and 1 The metal strips across the neck, and the spaces between them. Each fret raises a string by one half step.: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.
D major has the same notes as B minor, starting from D. See that scale.
- D1
- E2
- F♯3
- G4
- A5
- B6
- C♯7
- D, the root
- Other scale notes
Positions
D major in five positions
The A way of mapping the fretboard with the five open chord shapes C, A, G, E and D, moved up the neck to play any chord. splits the neck into five overlapping positions, one per A chord played near the nut that uses some unfretted strings, such as the open G, C or Em. shape. Learn one, then join it to the next.
D major · the whole neck
Five positions, each overlapping the next, repeating every 12 frets.
- Root (D)
- Scale tone
Chords
Chords from the D major scale
Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get its chords.
Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work
Hear the chords and progressions in D majorSame root
Other scales on D
Change a note or two and the same The note a chord is named after and built up from. C is the root of C, Cm and C7. takes on a new mood.
Questions
D major, in short
- What notes are in the D major scale?
- The D major scale has seven notes: D, E, F♯, G, A, B and C♯. As degrees: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
- What chords go with the D major scale?
- The chords built on D major are D, Em, F♯m, G, A, Bm and C♯°.
- What is the relative minor of D major?
- D major has the same notes as B minor, starting from D.