Guitar scale
D Major (Ionian) Guitar Scale
D Major (Ionian) is a seven-note scale built from D, E, F#, G, A, B, and C#. It is the 1st relative mode of D major. It is also commonly called D Ionian. Use it to study the scale's notes, interval formula, and guitar fretboard positions.
- Notes
- DEF#GABC#
- Formula
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
- Semitones
- 0 2 4 5 7 9 11
- Parent scale
- D major
- Also called
- D Ionian
How to read this scale
The notes are shown as pitch classes first. Square markers represent D root notes in the fretboard view, while circular markers represent the other notes in the scale.
Use the interactive fretboard to locate the D root notes and connect the remaining major (ionian) tones across standard tuning.
This same note pattern is also commonly called D Ionian.
Fretboard diagram
Open this scale in the fretboard tool
Start with D Major (Ionian) loaded, then adjust tuning, labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.
Open in interactive fretboardCommon chords and contexts
- Use D major over D major, Dmaj7, and straightforward major-key progressions.
- It is also the parent scale for the seven major-scale modes that share the same notes.