D Major Scale
Posted onThis guitar scale reference contains the notes, formula, structure, positions, chords, and modes for the D Major scale. For an in-depth lesson on the major scale, please see Major Scale Patterns, Positions and Theory.
Notes of D Major Scale
The D Major Scale contains two sharps, F# and C#.
D – E – F# – G – A – B – C#
Scale Formula
| Intervals | Root | Major 2nd | Major 3rd | Perfect 4th | Perfect 5th | Major 6th | Major 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | D | E | F# | G | A | B | C# |
Scale Structure
D Major is a major scale and follows the major scale structure of whole and half step intervals:
W W H W W W H
Scale Positions
The diagrams below outline the 5 CAGED positions for the D Major scale.
Position 1
Position 2
Position 3
Position 4
Position 5
Chords in the Key of D Major
| Degree | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chord | D | Em | F#m | G | A | Bm | C#dim |
| Chord Notes | D – E – F# | E – G – B | F# – A – C# | G – B – D | A – C# – E | B – D – F# | C# – E – G |
Relative and Parallel Scales
Relative Minor of D Major: B minor | Bm – C#dim – D – Em – F#m – G – A
Parallel Minor of D Major: D minor | Dm – Edim – F – Gm – Am – B♭ – C
Modes
The following are the modes of D Major:
- D Ionian (Major)
- E Dorian (Minor)
- F# Phrygian (Minor)
- G Lydian (Major)
- A Mixolydian (Major)
- B Aeolian (Minor)
- C# Locrian (Minor)
