D is one of the first chords you learn, and it teaches two skills the others lean on later: aiming the strum so it starts on the right string, and keeping one finger planted while the rest of the hand moves. The shape is small, three fingers in a triangle on the top strings. The work is in making all four strings ring and getting in and out of it on time.
D chord: notes and shapes at a glance
- Name: D major
- Symbol: D
- Notes: D, F#, A
- Where it belongs: I in D major, V in G major, IV in A major, VII in E minor, VI in F# minor, V in G minor, III in B minor
Each shape below is written from the thickest string to the thinnest: a
number is the fret, 0 an open string, x a string you
do not play. New to this? See how to read chord diagrams.
| Shape | Frets, low E to high E | Notes, low to high | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| D, open | xx0232 | D A D F# | The D every beginner learns. Four strings, starting from the open D string. |
| D, fifth fret barre | x57775 | D A D F# A | The A shape barred at fret 5. Fuller than the open D, and movable. |
| D, tenth fret barre | 10 12 12 11 10 10 | D A D F# A D | The E shape barred at fret 10. All six strings, for parts that already sit high on the neck. |
Read each diagram from the thickest string on the left to the thinnest on the right. A cross means the string is not played, a circle means it rings open.
D on the neck: every D, F#, A
Standard tuning, frets 0 to 12. The highlighted notes are the notes of D: any shape you build from them, anywhere on the neck, is still D.
How to play D, finger by finger
- First finger on the G string (third string), fret 2.
- Third finger on the B string (second string), fret 3.
- Second finger on the high E string (first string), fret 2.
- Strum from the open D string (fourth string) down. Do not play the low E or the A.
Then check it string by string, slowly: open D, G at fret 2, B at fret 3, high E at fret 2. Four clear notes. If one is dead, fix that finger before you press any harder.
Why your D sounds wrong, and the fix
| What you hear | Likely cause | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| A string buzzes | The finger is too far from the fret | Bring it close to the fret wire. Closer works better than harder. |
| The high E is muted | The third finger leans on it | Arch the third finger and press with its very tip. |
| The chord sounds muddy | The strum starts on the low E or the A | Aim at the D string. Start the stroke right above it. |
| The change is late | The whole hand lifts off the neck | Look for the finger the next chord shares, and keep it down. |
The changes D lives in
D sits in the key of D, where it is home, and in G and A, where it is the V and the IV. These are the moves you will make most.
| Change | Shapes | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| D, Cadd9, G | xx0232, x32033, 320033 | The third finger stays on the B string at fret 3 for all three. In Cadd9 and G, the fourth finger joins it on the high E at fret 3. |
| D to A | xx0232 to x02220 | The strum widens by one string: A starts on the open fifth string. |
| G, D, Em, C | 320033, xx0232, 022000, x32033 | A loop in G. Each chord starts on a different string: listen to the bass of each one. |
Take each change at 60 BPM on the online metronome, four beats per chord, before you speed up.
One finger, a new color: Dsus2 and Dsus4
Lift or add a single finger on the high E and D changes mood without changing position:
- Dsus2, xx0230: lift the second finger. The high E rings open, E replaces F#, and the chord floats. See Dsus2.
- Dsus4, xx0233: add the fourth finger at fret 3 on the high E. G replaces F# and the chord leans, waiting to come back to D. See Dsus4.
Rocking D, Dsus4, D, Dsus2 inside one bar is a classic acoustic move. When D needs F# in the bass, it becomes D/F#.
Songs to practice D
- Tom Petty's Free Fallin' keeps coming back to D, with the same pattern from start to finish.
- U2's With or Without You turns on D, A, Bm and G.
- Bob Dylan's Knockin' on Heaven's Door uses G, D, Am and C.
More songs with easy chords are on easy guitar songs for beginners.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play a D chord on guitar?
Which strings do you strum on a D chord?
What notes are in a D major chord?
Why does my D chord sound muffled?
What is the easiest way to change from D to G?
Who made this
Guitar Social Club is the work of Yohann Abbou, a guitar teacher in Paris who teaches adults. Every shape on this page is written string by string and checked against standard tuning, and the diagrams are drawn from those same fret numbers. The rest of our free guitar tools, including the chord finder, work the same way.
More about Yohann on his page, and about why Guitar Social Club exists.