STRINGSCALES

D major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

A string: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

D string: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

G string: G, A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

B string: B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A, B at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

High E string: E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

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D major

The major scale is the reference point of Western harmony: seven notes in the familiar whole and half step pattern, with a leading tone that pulls firmly back to the root. Chords, key signatures and all seven modes are measured against it. It resolves so naturally that it carries most pop, folk, classical and country writing, and learning it across the whole fretboard gives you the map every other scale on this site is drawn on.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

D

I

Dmaj
E

ii

Em
F♯

iii

F♯m
G

IV

Gmaj
A

V

Amaj
B

vi

Bm
C♯

vii°

C♯dim

Same notes, different mode

D major uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

E dorianF# phrygianG lydianA mixolydianB minor · relative minorC# locrian

major in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Map the D major scale through all five CAGED positions, then practice moving between neighboring positions along one string so the whole neck connects.
  • Over a I-IV-V progression in D, land chord tones on the downbeats: root, 3rd (F#) and 5th (A) of whichever chord is sounding.
  • The scale's pull comes from its half steps: resolve the leading tone (C#) up to D and the 4th (G) down to the 3rd (F#) to make phrases sound finished.
  • Harmonize the scale in diatonic 3rds and 6ths on adjacent string pairs; it is instant melodic rhythm-guitar vocabulary in D.

How to play D major on guitar

Open D drones the root on the fourth string, so anything you play higher up rings over a built-in pedal tone. All six open strings belong to the key, which means hammer-ons from open positions never land outside it. Barre roots wait at fret 5 for the A-shape and fret 10 for the E-shape. B minor reuses the same fingering 9 semitones up, so relative-minor lines cost you nothing new. Two sharps, that is the whole signature.

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