Explore chords · Guitar
D chord on guitar (D major)
Also called or written D, Dmaj, DM or D chord
D major contains the notes D, F♯, and A. The open shape is compact and bright, ideal for quick changes.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5
- Root positionD–F♯–AD×-×-0-2-3-2
- First inversionF♯–A–DD/F♯2-0-0-2-3-2
- Second inversionA–D–F♯D/A×-0-0-2-3-2
How do you play a D major chord on guitar?
D major is played in open position as × × 0 2 3 2: index finger on the G string at fret 2, ring finger on the B string at fret 3 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 2. The D string rings open. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 3 | D (1) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (3) |
BeginnerThe fingers must fit closely on the G, B, and high e strings without touching the open D string.
5th fret
D major is played at the 5th fret as × 5 7 7 7 5: barre your index finger across fret 5, middle finger on the D string at fret 7, ring finger on the G string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 7. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 5 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 4 (D) | 7 | 2 | A (5) |
| 3 (G) | 7 | 3 | D (1) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 4 | F♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
10th fret
D major is played at the 10th fret as 10 12 12 11 10 10: barre your index finger across fret 10, ring finger on the A string at fret 12, pinky finger on the D string at fret 12 and middle finger on the G string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 5 (A) | 12 | 3 | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | 12 | 4 | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 2 | F♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
| 1 (e) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
D/F♯ inversion · open position
D major is played in open position as 2 0 0 2 3 2: index finger on the low E string at fret 2, middle finger on the G string at fret 2, pinky finger on the B string at fret 3 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 2. The A and D strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2 | 1 | F♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 4 | D (1) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 3 | F♯ (3) |
D/F♯ inversion · fret 2
D major is played at the 2nd fret as × × 4 2 3 2: pinky finger on the D string at fret 4, index finger on the G string at fret 2, ring finger on the B string at fret 3 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 2. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 4 | F♯ (3) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 3 | D (1) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (3) |
Why it sounds like that
D major is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, with the major third F♯ giving it its bright quality. Compare it to D minor, which lowers the third to F.
What goes wrong with D major?
- Letting the low E string sound through, which is outside the chord.
- Letting the A string sound through, which muddies the D bass note.
When to use it
D major is the tonic in D major, so it anchors progressions like D–G–A, the I–IV–V. It also appears in A major and G major keys. Use it for folk, country, and pop.
Changing to and from D major
- From D major to A major, move the fingers to the A shape, keeping the index on the G string.
- Sliding the shape up two frets to the 5th fret gives E major.
Which voicing to use
The open position is the easiest and most common, with D in the bass. The 5th fret barre shape gives the same voicing higher up. For a different bass, use the D/F♯ inversion to put F♯ in the bass.
Other D chords
Common questions
How is D major written?
D major is written as D, Dmaj, or DM. There is no alternate root spelling for D major.
What is the difference between D major and D minor?
D major has a major third (F♯), while D minor has a minor third (F). This changes the chord from bright to somber.
Why are the low E and A strings muted in the open D major shape?
The low E is not a chord tone, so it must be muted. The A string is a chord tone, but it is muted to preserve the D bass note.