Also written Dm or Dmin
D minor is built from D, F, and A. The open A string rings against the fretted notes, giving this beginner shape a clear, ringing tone.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
D minor uses the formula 1, ♭3, 5, so the minor 3rd between D and F gives the chord its dark quality. The perfect 5th from D to A keeps it stable. Compare it with D major, where the 3rd is raised to F♯.
D minor is the vi chord in F major, as in the progression F–C–D minor–B♭ (I–V–vi–IV). D minor also fits D minor pentatonic lines over a D 5th chord. Use D minor for melancholic folk or classical pieces.
The open position has D in the bass, giving a solid root. For a softer sound, use the Dmin/F inversion with F as the lowest note.
D minor is played in open position as 2 2 1 0: middle finger on the G string at fret 2, ring finger on the C string at fret 2 and index finger on the E string at fret 1. The A string rings open.
Tip — The fingers must fret three separate strings while the open A string rings through, requiring clean finger placement.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (5) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 3 | D (1) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
D minor is played at the 2nd fret as 2 5 5 5: index finger on the G string at fret 2, middle finger on the C string at fret 5, ring finger on the E string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 5.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (5) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 2 | F (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 3 | A (5) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 4 | D (1) |
D minor is played at the 5th fret as 7 5 5 5: barre your index finger across fret 5 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 7.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 4 | D (1) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 1 (barre) | F (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
D minor is played at the 8th fret as 10 9 10 8: ring finger on the G string at fret 10, middle finger on the C string at fret 9, pinky finger on the E string at fret 10 and index finger on the A string at fret 8.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 3 | F (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 9 | 2 | A (5) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 4 | D (1) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 1 | F (♭3) |
D minor is played in open position as 7 5 5 0: ring finger on the G string at fret 7, index finger on the C string at fret 5 and middle finger on the E string at fret 5. The A string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 3 | D (1) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 1 | F (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 2 | A (5) |
| 1 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
D minor is written as Dm, Dmin, D−, or Dmi.
D minor has an F, while D major has an F♯. That one semitone changes the chord from minor to major.
Yes, the Dmin/F inversion at 2-5-5-5 uses a barre on the fifth fret for a different voicing.