Also written D5, D or D power chord
D 5th contains D and A. The 5th fret position requires a two-fret stretch, making it an intermediate power chord.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
D 5th is built from the root and perfect fifth. It has no third, so it works over major or minor contexts. Compare it to D major, which adds F♯.
D 5th is the tonic in D major progressions like D–G–A, the I–IV–V. It fits rock, pop, and blues bass lines that need a solid root-fifth foundation. Use it with G major and A major.
The 5th fret position is the standard choice, but the 10th fret voicing offers a warmer tone. The D5/A inversion puts the fifth in the bass, which can smooth out a progression.
D 5th is played at the 5th fret as × 5 7 7: index finger on the A string at fret 5, middle finger on the D string at fret 7 and ring finger on the G string at fret 7. The E string stays muted.
Tip — The stretch from the 5th to the 7th fret across three strings challenges finger independence.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 5 | 1 | D (1) |
| 2 (D) | 7 | 2 | A (5) |
| 1 (G) | 7 | 3 | D (1) |
D 5th is played at the 10th fret as 10 12 12 ×: index finger on the E string at fret 10, middle finger on the A string at fret 12 and ring finger on the D string at fret 12. The G string stays muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10 | 1 | D (1) |
| 3 (A) | 12 | 2 | A (5) |
| 2 (D) | 12 | 3 | D (1) |
| 1 (G) | muted | — | — |
D 5th is played at the 5th fret as 5 5 7 7: index finger on the E string at fret 5, middle finger on the A string at fret 5, ring finger on the D string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 7.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5 | 1 | A (5) |
| 3 (A) | 5 | 2 | D (1) |
| 2 (D) | 7 | 3 | A (5) |
| 1 (G) | 7 | 4 | D (1) |
D 5th is written as D5 or simply D. It is also called a power chord.
D 5th has only D and A, while D major adds F♯. The missing third makes D 5th neither major nor minor.
No barre is needed for D 5th. Use separate fingers for the fretted notes.