Piano chord · Triads
D major chord on piano
Right hand: D (1), F♯ (3), A (5)
How to play D on piano: the keys to press, which fingers to use, inversions and how it’s written on the staff.
Bright, stable and resolved — the foundation of most songs.
D is the I chord in D major, IV in A major and V in G major. In minor keys: III in B minor, V in G minor, VI in F♯ minor and VII in E minor.
- Notes
- DF♯A
- Formula
- 135
- Built from
- root · major 3rd · perfect 5th
Piano
Root position · numbers are finger numbers
How to play it
Right handD1 · thumbF♯3 · middleA5 · pinky
Left handD5 · pinkythe root, an octave lower
Finger numbers: 1 thumb · 2 index · 3 middle · 4 ring · 5 pinky. Inversions use the same notes with a different one on the bottom — they help you move smoothly between chords. Tap any key to hear it.
Tips for playing D on piano
D, F♯, A — one black key in the middle, which your middle finger reaches naturally (1-3-5).
You’ll find D in common progressions such as D–A–Bm–G (the pop progression in D major), D–G–A–G (three-chord rock in D major) and D–Bm–G–A (the ’50s progression in D major).
Learning piano? D is part of stage 5 (“D, A and E major”) of our first piano chords path.
