D Major 9th
Dmaj9
Notes
D · F♯ · A · C♯ · E
Intervals
- RootD (1P)
- Major 3rdF♯ (3M)
- Perfect 5thA (5P)
- Major 7thC♯ (7M)
- Major 9thE (9M)
Fretboard
Adjust labels, frets, and palette in the interactive view.
Voicings & shapes
Rootless voicings (A / B form) (4)
About
The D major 9th (D–F♯–A–C♯–E) extends a maj7 with a ninth. The result combines the gentle shimmer of the major-7 interval with the openness of the E. The 3rd, 7th, and 9th are the essential tones — the 5th is typically dropped on guitar, since it adds little harmonic information and clutters the voicing. Common in jazz and R&B as a tonic or subdominant color. Compared to DMaj7, maj9 feels more expansive and less static; the added 9th breathes air into the chord without introducing tension. Compared to D6/9, it is more harmonically active because of the 7th.
Chord diagrams
D Major 9th voicing charts — tap a sheet to open it full size to save or print.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- D Lydian (I)
- D Major (I)
- A Major (IV)
- A Mixolydian (IV)
- A♭ Locrian (V)
- B Dorian (III)
- B Natural Minor (III)
- D♭ Locrian (II)
- D♭ Phrygian (II)
- E Dorian (VII)
- E Mixolydian (VII)
- F♯ Natural Minor (VI)
- F♯ Phrygian (VI)
- G Lydian (V)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.