D Major Piano Chord
Root
D3rd
F#5th
AE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
D
F#
A
The Notes in a D Major Chord
The Root
The root of the chord is always the easiest to find because it's in the name of the chord! The root of a D Major chord is D.
The 3rd
The third of a D Major chord is F#. The third is up four half-steps from the Root.
Finding F# from D step by step:
- Start on: D
- Step 1: move up to Eb
- Step 2: move up to E
- Step 3: move up to F
- Step 4: Land on F#
3rd
F#Root
D1
2
3
- Eb is a minor second above D.
- E is a major 2nd above D.
- F is a minor third above D.
- F# is a major third above D.
The 5th
The fifth of a D Major chord is A. The fifth is down five half-steps from the Root.
Finding A from D step by step:
- Start on: D
- Step 1: move down to C#
- Step 2: move down to C
- Step 3: move down to B
- Step 4: move down to Bb
- Step 5: Land on A
5th
ARoot
D1
2
3
4
- C# is a minor second below D.
- C is a major 2nd below D.
- B is a minor third below D.
- Bb is a major third below D.
- A is a fourth below D. The 5th is down a fourth? Confusing, right? The note A is down 5 half-steps from D, but up 7 half-steps from D:
5th
ARoot
D1
2
3
4
5
6
The Inversions of D Major
Root Position
Root
D3rd
F#5th
AE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
D
F#
A
1st Inversion
3rd
F#5th
ARoot
DE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
F#
A
D
2nd Inversion
5th
ARoot
D3rd
F#E
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
A
D
F#
