D major scale on mandolin
The D major scale has seven notes: D, E, F♯, G, A, B and C♯ (1 2 3 4 5 6 7). The do-re-mi scale that every other scale is measured against. Bright and settled; it fits major and maj7 chords, and the other six modes are this scale started from a different note.
| Note | D | E | F♯ | G | A | B | C♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Step to the next | whole | whole | half | whole | whole | whole | half |
3 positions to learn it in
Each stretch here is a few frets you can play without moving the hand: the open position, then from the root on the lowest string. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the D major scale
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; D (D) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (D) | Dhome | Dmaj7home |
| 2 (E) | Emrestless | Em7restless |
| 3 (F♯) | F♯mhalf-light | F♯m7half-light |
| 4 (G) | Gthe door | Gmaj7the door |
| 5 (A) | Athe pull | A7the pull |
| 6 (B) | Bmthe shadow | Bm7the shadow |
| 7 (C♯) | C♯dimthe edge | C♯m7♭5the edge |
Scales with the same notes
Its relative minor is the B minor scale: the same notes, started from B.
The chords of this key, to hear and play: chords in the key of D major.
Questions
What notes are in the D major scale?
D, E, F♯, G, A, B and C♯. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, and the steps between its notes are W W H W W W H (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the D major scale?
The chords made only of its notes: D, Em, F♯m, G, A, Bm and C♯dim, and as seventh chords Dmaj7, Em7, F♯m7, Gmaj7, A7, Bm7 and C♯m7♭5. D is home: D is the chord it sounds most settled over.
What is the relative minor of the D major scale?
The B minor scale, which has the same notes started from B.
The major scale in every key
Other scales in D
D minorD minor pentatonicD major pentatonicD bluesD DorianD MixolydianD LydianD PhrygianD harmonic minorD melodic minorD Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: mandolin scales. This scale on guitar, bass, ukulele and banjo.