fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON PIANO

D Major

The bright, stable home of common-practice tonality. Whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half pattern across seven letters.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
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Tempo120 bpm

Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)

Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title D Major Verovio
Keyboard
DEGABDEGABDEGABDF♯C♯F♯C♯F♯C♯
Related scales
Diatonic chord harmonisation
Alternate arrangements
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
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Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the D Major scale?

The D Major scale uses the notes D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯ (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What chords work over D Major?

The diatonic chords of D major: D major, ii minor, iii minor, IV major, V major (or V7), vi minor, vii°. Strong cadences use IV→V→I.

How do I finger D Major on Piano?

On piano, scales typically use a 1-2-3 / 1-2-3-4 thumb-under pattern for white-key scales. Black-key scales (F♯, G♭, etc.) shift the thumb-under positions onto white keys for ergonomic clearance. Hanon Exercise No. 1 and Czerny Op. 599 No. 1 work through the canonical pattern.

When would I use the Major scale?

The bright, stable home of common-practice tonality. Whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half pattern across seven letters.