E in D major
In D major, E is E (natural)
In D major, E is E (natural)The key signature of D major does not alter E, so it stays natural.
Is E sharp or flat in D major?
In D major, E is natural: the key signature has two sharps, F♯ and C♯, and none of them falls on E, so you play the plain E unless a written accidental says otherwise.
The signature of D major is two sharps, F♯ and C♯. It alters only F and C, so E is left alone.
Spelled from the tonic, the D major scale runs D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯ — one of each letter, each carrying whatever the signature gives it. The staff above draws the D major signature and the note E inside it — exactly as you would meet it in a piece written in this key.
Every letter in D major
D major has two sharps, F♯ and C♯. That fixes what each of the seven letters is called in this key:
- C is C♯
- D is D (natural — the signature leaves it alone)
- E is E (natural — the signature leaves it alone) — the letter on this page
- F is F♯
- G is G (natural — the signature leaves it alone)
- A is A (natural — the signature leaves it alone)
- B is B (natural — the signature leaves it alone)
Related keys
D major shares its signature with its relative B minor — the same sharps or flats, so E is natural there too.
Frequently asked questions
- Is E sharp or flat in D major?
- No. D major has two sharps, F♯ and C♯ — none of them on E, so E is natural in this key.
- What accidental does E carry in D major?
- E stays natural. The signature of D major is two sharps, F♯ and C♯. It alters only F and C, so E is left alone.
- What sharps or flats are in D major?
- D major has two sharps, F♯ and C♯ — written in that order at the start of the staff.
- How is the D major scale spelled?
- From the tonic up: D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯. Each letter appears once, carrying whatever the key signature gives it.