A/D chord on guitar
A Major Over D. Notes: A, C# and E.
How to play A/D
- Put your index finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 2 (A).
- Put your middle finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 2 (C#).
- Let the open D and high E strings ring.
- Don't play the low E and A strings: skip them or mute them with a fretting finger.
- Strum from the D string down.
All 4 ways to play A/D
Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.Open position
EasyBarre at fret 5
MediumBarre at fret 5
HardBarre at fret 9
HardNotes and theory
The major triad is the bright, settled chord that most songs start and end on. The formula is 1 3 5, and you will also see it written as Amaj and AM.
Keys that use A/D
More A chords
All A guitar chordsA/D with another bass note
major chords in every key
Questions
What notes are in the A/D chord?
A/D (A major over D) is made of three notes: A (root), C# (major third) and E (perfect fifth). The slash means D is played as the lowest note.
How do you play A/D on guitar?
The easiest A/D is the "open position" shape. Put your index finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 2 (A). Put your middle finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 2 (C#). Let the open D and high E strings ring.
Is A/D hard to play on guitar?
No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 2 fretted notes plus open strings.
What is the difference between A/D and Am?
Only the third changes. A major uses a major third and sounds bright; A minor lowers that note by a half step, which makes it sound darker. The root and the fifth stay the same.
What key is A/D in?
A/D belongs to 6 keys: D major (as the V chord), E major (as the IV chord), A major (as the I chord), C sharp minor (as the VI chord), F sharp minor (as the III chord) and B minor (as the VII chord).
What does a major chord sound like?
The major triad is the bright, settled chord that most songs start and end on.