D major

Two sharps, F♯ C♯. Seven notes: D E F♯ G A B C♯. Every open string is in the key. Try the key’s seven chords in different places on the neck. Press a shape to hear it and see its notes.

Signature: 2♯
Relative: B minor
Parallel: D minor

Labels

NotesR 3 5Degrees

Across one chord in different positions. Down the chords in one position.
IMainDD · F♯ · A
iiEmE · G · B
iiiF♯mF♯ · A · C♯
IVMainGG · B · D
VMainAA · C♯ · E
viMainBmB · D · F♯
vii°C♯°C♯ · E · G

Light up

Walk up to G. Strum D, pick E and F♯ on the way up, land on G. Listen to how the bass connects the chords.

Triads on the top three strings. Three notes, three places, all D. Try them when a full six-string chord feels too busy.

LowFrets 2–3
MiddleFrets 5–7
HighFrets 10–11

Same chords, higher. The four main chords in the open position, then again in frets 5 to 9. Listen to how the higher voicings change the sound.

Four chords in one positionD – G – A – Bm without leaving frets 2 to 6.70 bpmLevel 1
Climb with one chordD in all four places, low to high. Hear it brighten.60 bpmLevel 1
Walk up to GStrum D, then walk the bass E – F♯ into G.90 bpmLevel 2
Scale, then chordsPlay the scale in frets 5 to 9, then the four chords there.70 bpmLevel 2

The four-chord loop
I – V – vi – IV
- D
- A
- Bm
- G
The three-chord song
I – IV – V – I
- D
- G
- A
- D
The fifties ballad
I – vi – IV – V
- D
- Bm
- G
- A
The jazz cadence
ii7 – V7 – Imaj7
- Em7
- A7
- Dmaj7

D major

D
E
F♯
G
A
B
C♯

G major

D
E
F♯
G
A
B
C

D major is G major with C raised to C♯.

5♭D♭B♭m

4♭A♭Fm

3♭E♭Cm

2♭B♭Gm

1♭F Dm

0C Am

1♯G Em

2♯D Bm

3♯A F♯m

4♯E C♯m

5♯B G♯m

6♯F♯D♯m

D major

Three patterns to try

Four drills, with a click

Strum along

G major with C raised

Move one step, or jump anywhere

D major

Modes of these notes