Explore chords · Ukulele
D chord on ukulele (D major)
Also called or written D, Dmaj, DM or D chord
D major contains D, F♯ and A. The open shape is a beginner-friendly grip that uses two fretted notes and one open string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5
How do you play a D major chord on ukulele?
D major is played in open position as × 2 2 0: index finger on the C string at fret 2 and middle finger on the E string at fret 2. The A string rings open. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 1 | D (1) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
BeginnerThe open shape requires muting the G string while fretting the C and E strings, which can be tricky for beginners.
D/F♯ inversion
D major is played at the 5th fret as 7 6 5 5: pinky finger on the G string at fret 7, ring finger on the C string at fret 6, index finger on the E string at fret 5 and middle finger on the A string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 4 | D (1) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 3 | F♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 1 | A (5) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 2 | D (1) |
D/A inversion
D major is played at the 9th fret as 11 9 10 9: pinky finger on the G string at fret 11, index finger on the C string at fret 9, ring finger on the E string at fret 10 and middle finger on the A string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 11 | 4 | F♯ (3) |
| 3 (C) | 9 | 1 | A (5) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 3 | D (1) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 2 | F♯ (3) |
Open · 2-2-2-0
D major is played in open position as 2 2 2 0: barre your index finger across fret 2. The A string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
Why it sounds like that
D major is built from the root, major third and perfect fifth — 1, 3, 5. The major third F♯ gives the chord its bright quality. Lower that third by one semitone to F and you get D minor.
What goes wrong with D major?
- Letting the G string ring out and add a non-chord tone.
- Not pressing the C and E strings firmly enough, causing a buzz.
- Accidentally muting the open A string with the fretting hand.
When to use it
D major is the tonic in D major, heard in progressions like D–G–A, the I–IV–V–I. It also fits the I–V–vi–IV in D major: D–A–B minor–G. Use it for folk, country and upbeat strumming. Compare D 5th for a leaner two-note sound.
Changing to and from D major
- Move to G major by lifting the fingers and placing the index on the C string fret 2, middle on the A string fret 2, and ring on the E string fret 3.
- Slide the 5th fret shape down two frets to the 3rd fret to reach C major.
Which voicing to use
The open shape is the easiest and most common. The D/F♯ inversion puts the third in the bass for a smoother voice leading into G major. The D/A inversion has the fifth in the bass and sounds fuller.
Other D chords
Common questions
How is D major written?
D major is written as D, Dmaj or DM.
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 sombre.
Why is the G string muted in the open D major shape?
The open G string is not a chord tone, so it is muted to keep the chord clean and avoid an outside note.