What is the relative minor of D major?

B minor — same two-sharp key signature, starting on the 6th degree of the D major scale.

What are the chords in the key of D major?

D major (I), E minor (ii), F# minor (iii), G major (IV), A major (V), B minor (vi), and C# diminished (vii°).

Key of D major — notes, key signature, and chords

D major has two sharps — F# and C# — and is one of the brightest, most resonant keys for stringed instruments. Violins, violas, and guitars all have open strings tuned to notes in the D major scale, which is why orchestral works in D (Beethoven's Violin Concerto, Pachelbel's Canon) tend to ring with extra brilliance. D major sits two steps clockwise from C on the circle of fifths.

Key signature

2sharps

1.F#
2.C#

Added in the standard order of sharps.

Diatonic chords

The seven triads built on each scale degree. These are the chords you hear used most in D major:

Roman	Chord	Quality	Notes
I	D	major	D · F# · A
ii	Em	minor	E · G · B
iii	F#m	minor	F# · A · C#
IV	G	major	G · B · D
V	A	major	A · C# · E
vi	Bm	minor	B · D · F#
vii°	C#°	diminished	C# · E · G

Common progressions

The Pachelbel canon — D–A–Bm–F#m–G–D–G–A — is so iconic that every chord in it appears constantly in pop music. I–V–vi–IV in D (D–A–Bm–G) is the staple modern progression; ii–V–I (Em–A–D) is the jazz cadence. D major also frames the 12-bar blues with D–G–A.

Relative minor

The relative minor of D major is B minor — it shares the same key signature, just centred on the 6th degree of the D major scale (B). A piece can move between D major and B minor freely without any change of accidentals.

Common mistakes

The two sharps are F# and C#, in that order — sharps are always added in the order F C G D A E B. Beginners sometimes get the order backwards or miss the C# entirely when reading at sight. The relative minor is B minor, which shares the same two-sharp signature.

Drill it

The Circle of Fifths trainer drills every key signature — D major included — with timed flash cards and best-time tracking.

Open the Circle of Fifths Trainer →Or try today's Etudle puzzle

Frequently asked

How many sharps does D major have?: D major has two sharps: F# and C#.
What are the notes in the D major scale?: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#.
What is the relative minor of D major?: B minor — same two-sharp key signature, starting on the 6th degree of the D major scale.
What are the chords in the key of D major?: D major (I), E minor (ii), F# minor (iii), G major (IV), A major (V), B minor (vi), and C# diminished (vii°).