D chord on guitar
D Major. Notes: D, F# and A.
How to play D
- Put your index finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 2 (A).
- Put your middle finger on the 1st (high E) string at fret 2 (F#).
- Put your ring finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 3 (D).
- Let the open D string 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 D
Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.Open position
EasyBarre at fret 2
HardBarre at fret 5
HardBarre at fret 10
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 Dmaj and DM.
Keys that use D
More D chords
All D guitar chordsD with another bass note
major chords in every key
Questions
What notes are in the D chord?
D (D major) is made of three notes: D (root), F# (major third) and A (perfect fifth).
How do you play D on guitar?
The easiest 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 1st (high E) string at fret 2 (F#). Put your ring finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 3 (D).
Is D hard to play on guitar?
No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 3 fretted notes plus open strings.
What is the difference between D and Dm?
Only the third changes. D major uses a major third and sounds bright; D minor lowers that note by a half step, which makes it sound darker. The root and the fifth stay the same.
What key is D in?
D belongs to 6 keys: D major (as the I chord), G major (as the V chord), A major (as the IV chord), E minor (as the VII chord), F sharp minor (as the VI chord) and B minor (as the III chord).
What does a major chord sound like?
The major triad is the bright, settled chord that most songs start and end on.