My Chord Finder

chords in the key of d

chords in the key of d are I D (x x 0 2 3 2), ii Em (0 2 2 0 0 0), iii F#m (2 4 4 2 2 2), IV G (3 2 0 0 0 3), V A (x 0 2 2 2 0), vi Bm (x 2 4 4 3 2) and vii° C#dim (x 4 2 0 2 0).

One fingering each

D major charts put string 6, low E, on the left and string 1, high E, on the right. Dot numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. × is muted, ○ is open, and the letters under the strings are the notes you hear.

D major has 2 barre shapes out of 7: F#m and Bm. The other 5 each include an open string.

D major, one shape each, low E to high E
DegreeChordQualityNotesFretsBarre
IDMajorD F# Ax x 0 2 3 2no barre
iiEmMinorE G B0 2 2 0 0 0no barre
iiiF#mMinorF# A C#2 4 4 2 2 2barre
IVGMajorG B D3 2 0 0 0 3no barre
VAMajorA C# Ex 0 2 2 2 0no barre
viBmMinorB D F#x 2 4 4 3 2barre
vii°C#dimDiminishedC# E Gx 4 2 0 2 0no barre

I · Major

D

××○D1A3D2F#

Frets from low E to high E: x x 0 2 3 2.

Sounding notes: D3 (1), A3 (5), D4 (1) and F#4 (3).

  • Sixth string, low E: muted.
  • Fifth string, A: muted.
  • Fourth string, D: open, sounds D.
  • Third string, G: finger 1, fret 2, sounds A.
  • Second string, B: finger 3, fret 3, sounds D.
  • First string, high E: finger 2, fret 2, sounds F#.

D is not a barre.

Open D in the chord finder

ii · Minor

Em

○E2B3E○G○B○E

Frets from low E to high E: 0 2 2 0 0 0.

Sounding notes: E2 (1), B2 (5), E3 (1), G3 (b3), B3 (5) and E4 (1).

  • Sixth string, low E: open, sounds E.
  • Fifth string, A: finger 2, fret 2, sounds B.
  • Fourth string, D: finger 3, fret 2, sounds E.
  • Third string, G: open, sounds G.
  • Second string, B: open, sounds B.
  • First string, high E: open, sounds E.

Em is not a barre.

Open Em in the chord finder

iii · Minor

F#m

fr23451F#3C#4F#1A1C#1F#

Frets from low E to high E: 2 4 4 2 2 2.

Sounding notes: F#2 (1), C#3 (5), F#3 (1), A3 (b3), C#4 (5) and F#4 (1).

  • Sixth string, low E: finger 1, fret 2, sounds F#.
  • Fifth string, A: finger 3, fret 4, sounds C#.
  • Fourth string, D: finger 4, fret 4, sounds F#.
  • Third string, G: finger 1, fret 2, sounds A.
  • Second string, B: finger 1, fret 2, sounds C#.
  • First string, high E: finger 1, fret 2, sounds F#.

F#m is a barre: finger 1 at fret 2.

Open F#m in the chord finder

IV · Major

G

2G1B○D○G○B3G

Frets from low E to high E: 3 2 0 0 0 3.

Sounding notes: G2 (1), B2 (3), D3 (5), G3 (1), B3 (3) and G4 (1).

  • Sixth string, low E: finger 2, fret 3, sounds G.
  • Fifth string, A: finger 1, fret 2, sounds B.
  • Fourth string, D: open, sounds D.
  • Third string, G: open, sounds G.
  • Second string, B: open, sounds B.
  • First string, high E: finger 3, fret 3, sounds G.

G is not a barre.

Open G in the chord finder

V · Major

A

×○A1E2A3C#○E

Frets from low E to high E: x 0 2 2 2 0.

Sounding notes: A2 (1), E3 (5), A3 (1), C#4 (3) and E4 (5).

  • Sixth string, low E: muted.
  • Fifth string, A: open, sounds A.
  • Fourth string, D: finger 1, fret 2, sounds E.
  • Third string, G: finger 2, fret 2, sounds A.
  • Second string, B: finger 3, fret 2, sounds C#.
  • First string, high E: open, sounds E.

A is not a barre.

Open A in the chord finder

vi · Minor

Bm

fr2345×1B3F#4B2D1F#

Frets from low E to high E: x 2 4 4 3 2.

Sounding notes: B2 (1), F#3 (5), B3 (1), D4 (b3) and F#4 (5).

  • Sixth string, low E: muted.
  • Fifth string, A: finger 1, fret 2, sounds B.
  • Fourth string, D: finger 3, fret 4, sounds F#.
  • Third string, G: finger 4, fret 4, sounds B.
  • Second string, B: finger 2, fret 3, sounds D.
  • First string, high E: finger 1, fret 2, sounds F#.

Bm is a barre: finger 1 at fret 2.

Open Bm in the chord finder

vii° · Diminished

C#dim

×4C#2E○G3C#○E

Frets from low E to high E: x 4 2 0 2 0.

Sounding notes: C#3 (1), E3 (b3), G3 (b5), C#4 (1) and E4 (b3).

  • Sixth string, low E: muted.
  • Fifth string, A: finger 4, fret 4, sounds C#.
  • Fourth string, D: finger 2, fret 2, sounds E.
  • Third string, G: open, sounds G.
  • Second string, B: finger 3, fret 2, sounds C#.
  • First string, high E: open, sounds E.

C#dim is not a barre.

Open C#dim in the chord finder

Scale notes

D major scale notes: D, E, F#, G, A, B and C#.

Half steps in D major: F# to G, and C# to D. Every other step is a whole step.

Every open string of standard tuning (low E, A, D, G and B) is a note of D major.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,01234EADGBE
Open strings through fret 4. Gold dots are notes of D major.

Common progressions

I-V-vi-IV in D major is D, A, Bm and G.

I-vi-IV-V in D major is D, Bm, G and A.

NumeralsChordsPlay
I-V-vi-IVD, A, Bm and GHear it
I-vi-IV-VD, Bm, G and AHear it

On piano

The I chord on piano is D3, F#3 and A3, MIDI 50, 54 and 57. The same pitch classes are D.

CDEFGAB
One octave from C. Gold keys are the D pitch classes, not a specific octave.

How this key sits on guitar

The D chart mutes the sixth string and the fifth string, then sounds the open fourth string. That single shape is the home chord; the table above is the whole key.

Major, minor and diminished triads in the table follow Open Music Theory: triads.

Questions

Is chord d major guitar the whole key?

No. The phrase chord d major guitar means the home chord alone. The phrases chords in d major, chords for d major scale and d major scale guitar mean the scale notes and the triads in the table together.

Other keys