Scale · 7 notes
D major scale — guitar notes & shapes
The D major scale is D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯. The major scale is the reference for all of Western harmony: bright, resolved and singable. Every other scale on this site is described by how it differs from it.
On the fretboard
Red = root (D). High e string on top, like tab. Numbers show the scale degree.
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | root |
| 2 | E | major 2nd |
| 3 | F♯ | major 3rd |
| 4 | G | perfect 4th |
| 5 | A | perfect 5th |
| 6 | B | major 6th |
| 7 | C♯ | major 7th |
Steps: W W H W W W H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Chords in the scale
Relative scale: B natural minor.
Home key: D.
Sound, styles and practice
Styles: Pop melodies, folk, country, classical and happy-sounding solos.
- Sing “do re mi” as you play to tie the sound to the shape.
- Play it in thirds (1–3, 2–4, 3–5…) to hear the chords inside it.
- Learn one position per week and connect it to the next.
Go further with guitar scales for beginners and how to improvise.
FAQ
- What notes are in the D major scale?
- D major: D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯.
- Where do I play D major on the guitar?
- The easiest place is around fret 10, where D sits on the low E string (highlighted in the diagram). The same pattern repeats 12 frets higher.
- What is its relative scale?
- B natural minor — the same notes with a different home note.