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Two sharps — F♯, C♯

Chords in the Key of D Major

Brighter and tighter — where barre chords start to matter.

The Tonic
Tonic
D
I · Tonic
1
The Other Six Diatonic Chords
ii2
Em
Supertonic
iii3
F#m
Mediant
IV4
G
Subdominant
V5
A
Dominant
vi6
Bm
Submediant
vii°7
C#dim
Leading Tone
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Load the key of D Major onto the fretboard.

See how all seven chords sit together, and hear what makes each degree do its job.

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Questions about the key of D Major

What are the 7 chords in the key of D Major?

The key of D Major contains D, Em, F#m, G, A, Bm, C#dim. In Roman numerals that's I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii° — the tonic (D) is home, and the dominant (A) creates the tension that resolves back to it.

Is D major harder than C or G major?

Slightly, and for one reason: two of its seven chords (F♯m and Bm) are full barre chords, where C and G major get by almost entirely on open shapes. If your barre technique is solid, D is no harder — it's the usual key people graduate to next.

Related keys

G MajorKeyA MajorKeyC MajorKey