Piano chords · Major chord
D piano chord (D major)
D is a major chord with 3 notes. It sounds bright and settled. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
D – F♯ – A · tap any key to hear it
The notes of D
D is built from 3 notes (1 – 3 – 5):
- D, the root
- F♯, the major third
- A, the fifth
F♯ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on D, 3 on F♯, 5 on A.
- Left hand: 5 on D, 3 on F♯, 1 on A.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | D – F♯ – A |
| 1st inversion | F♯ – A – D |
| 2nd inversion | A – D – F♯ |
Where D belongs
D is the I chord in D major, the IV chord in A major and the V chord in G major. Its relative minor is Bm, which shares two of its notes.
Dm is the same chord with the middle note a half step lower (F♯ becomes F), which turns it from bright to dark.
Hear it in a progression
D – A – Bm – G: I – V – vi – IV, the progression behind countless pop songs.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the D chord?
D (D major) is made of D, F♯ and A: the root, major third and fifth.
How do you play D on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on D, 3 on F♯, 5 on A, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on D, 3 on F♯, 1 on A.
What's the difference between D and Dm?
Dm is the same chord with the middle note a half step lower (F♯ becomes F), which turns it from bright to dark.