Chords in the key of D major
The key of D major has two sharps (F♯, C♯). Its seven chords are D, Em, F♯m, G, A, Bm and C♯dim. Tap any of them, or play them in order.
Tap a numeral to hear one chord; tap a shape to open it.
The chords that do most of the work
D is home. G (IV) is the step away, A (V) is the pull back, and Bm (vi), the relative minor, is the shadow of home. Those four chords, in some order, carry an enormous share of pop, rock and country songs. Em (ii) usually leads to A; F♯m (iii) is used for color; C♯dim is tense and rarely stays long.
Key signature
D major has two sharps (F♯, C♯), written at the start of every line so you don't have to mark them on each note. Sharp keys add one sharp per step clockwise around the circle of fifths: D major sits between G major and A major.
The notes of the key are the D major scale: D E F♯ G A B C♯. Relative minor: B minor (same notes). Parallel minor: D minor (same starting note).
Progressions in D major
Press play to hear I–V–vi–IV in D major, then use the key menu to move it.
In D major, 4 beats per chord. Open in the progression builder
- ID
- VA
- viBm
- IVG
| Progression | In D major | |
|---|---|---|
| I–V–vi–IV the pop progression | D – A – Bm – G | |
| I–IV–V the three-chord progression | D – G – A – D | |
| I–vi–IV–V the 50s progression | D – Bm – G – A | |
| ii–V–I the jazz cadence | Em7 – A7 – Dmaj7 – Dmaj7 | |
| vi–IV–I–V the minor-feel pop loop | Bm – G – D – A | |
| I–IV–vi–V the lift | D – G – Bm – A | |
| I–vi–ii–V the turnaround | D – Bm – Em – A | |
| I–iii–IV–V the stepwise climb | D – F♯m – G – A | |
| I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V the Canon progression | D – A – Bm – F♯m – G – D – G – A | |
| I7–IV7–V7 (12 bars) the 12-bar blues | D7 – D7 – D7 – D7 – G7 – G7 – D7 – D7 – A7 – G7 – D7 – A7 |
Secondary dominants in D major
Any chord in D major can get its own V7. It isn't in the key, but it points straight at the chord that follows.
- V7 of ii
- V7 of iii
- V7 of IV
- V7 of V
- V7 of vi
Chords borrowed from the parallel key
Major-key songs often darken for a moment by taking chords from D minor: Gm (iv), B♭ (♭VI), C (♭VII) and F (♭III). The minor iv (Gm) is the classic bittersweet move before returning to D.
Seventh chords in D major
Stack one more third on each triad for the seventh chords: Dmaj7, Em7, F♯m7, Gmaj7, A7, Bm7 and C♯m7♭5. A7 is the only dominant seventh, which is why it pulls so strongly to D.
Playing in D major on guitar
D major is one of the open-chord keys: D, Em, G, A and C♯dim all use open strings, and only F♯m and Bm need a barre or a partial barre.
Transpose a chord chart · How a capo works
Other keys
Key of D major: questions
What chords are in the key of D major?
D, Em, F♯m, G, A, Bm and C♯dim. As numerals: I = D, ii = Em, iii = F♯m, IV = G, V = A, vi = Bm, vii° = C♯dim.
How many sharps or flats are in D major?
Two sharps (F♯, C♯).
What is the relative minor of D major?
B minor. Same notes, same signature, a different home chord (Bm).
What are the I, IV and V chords in D major?
D (I), G (IV) and A (V). With those three you can accompany most folk and blues tunes in the key.
How do I play in D major on guitar with a capo?
You don't need one: D major uses open chord shapes directly.
Chord spellings follow the key signature of D major; all of them are checked automatically. Updated September 2026.