D Chord Progressions: Basic Triads

If you remember from previous entries, the D major scale consists of the D, E, F#, G, A, B and C# notes. This scale will relate directly to the simple triads (that is, three-note chords made of the root, major/minor third, and diminished/perfect fifth notes) in the key of D major (please refer to this website or elsewhere for more information):

I. D major (made of the D, F#, and A notes);
ii. E minor (E, G, and B notes);
iii. F# minor (F#, A, and C# notes);
IV. G major (G, B, and D notes);
V. A major (A, C#, and E notes);
vi. B minor (B, D, and F# notes); and
vii(b5). C# diminished (C#, E, and G notes).

As we'll see later, the capitalization or lack of capitalization for the above Roman numerals provides an additional visual aid when substituting chords in different keys.