D Music Note: The Complete Guide to the Note and Key

As one of the twelve notes in Western music, the D music note sits between C#/Db and D#/Eb. Learn how to recognise D in different clefs, the different scales and modes that start on D and listen to famous songs that feature D prominently in their melodies.

D Note on The Staff

Here is probably the most common D you’ll see. It sits on the space below the bottom line of the treble clef and is the D above middle C.

Below are different Ds that you will see on the treble and bass clef. Remember that we can play D notes an octave higher or lower from the D above middle C. This means that technically there are infinite D notes to choose from!

Below are notes that are enharmonically equivalent to D. C double sharp means two half-steps above C, which is a D natural. E double flat means two half steps below E, which is also D natural.

D Note on the Piano and Keyboard

D sits between the C# and D# black keys on the keyboard. The black keys move in groups of two then three. The D note is in-between the first and second black keys in the groups of 2.

You might also remember it as the white key above C.

D Note Accidentals

We can add accidental signs to a D note and these are shown below. Remember that all these notes (with the exception of D natural) are not enharmonically equivalent to D.

D Music Notes in Different Clefs

Here are typical D notes that you will see in different clefs. Some are lower or higher and for more on how to name the different D notes, check out our post on octaves.

Treble Clef – D

The D above middle C (D4) sits on the space below the first line of the treble clef.

Bass Clef – D

The D below middle C (D3) sits on the third line of the bass clef.

Alto Clef – D

The D above middle C (D4) sits on the third space of the alto clef.

Tenor Clef – D

The D above middle C (D4) sits on the fourth space of the tenor clef.

Mezzo- soprano – D

The D above middle C (D4) sits on the second space of the mezzo-soprano clef.

Soprano Clef – D

The D above middle C (D4) sits on the first space of the soprano clef.

Baritone Clef – D

The D below middle C (D3) sits on the second line of the baritone clef.

Popular Scales starting on D

D Major

The major scale formula is W-W-H-W-W-W-H, where W= whole step and H = half step. Below is the D major scale.

D Natural Minor

The natural minor formula is W-H-W-W-H-W-W. Below is the D natural minor scale.

D Harmonic Minor

The harmonic minor formula is W – H – W – W – H – W1/2 – H. Note that this scale has a three semitone step or a whole-step-and-a-half.

D Melodic Minor

When ascending the melodic minor scale follows this pattern: W-H-W-W-W-W-H.

When descending it follows the natural minor pattern.

Modes Starting on D

Below are the modes that start on D.

Frequency of D Music Note

Using the equal temperament tuning system, the A above middle C is 440 Hz. This means that the D above middle C would be approximately 294 Hz.

Solfege D Note

In the solfege system, the syllables Do, Re Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si are used to refer to the notes names, C, D, E , F, G, A, B.

The D music note in solfege is referred to as ‘Re’,

What’s Next…?

• Learn about Chords in the Key of D Major
• Learn about more music notes with our music theory basics guides.