The D root note produces some of the brightest and most emotionally versatile chords on guitar. From the open Dm that sits at the heart of countless folk and pop songs to the sophisticated Dmaj7 used in jazz and soul — every D chord shape you will ever need is on this page.

D Minor (Dm)

Dark and melancholic. One of the most emotionally powerful open chords on guitar. The home chord of D natural minor and a staple of folk, classical and emotional pop music.

e |--1--|
B |--3--|
G |--2--|
D |--0--|
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=e string fret 1  Middle=G string fret 2  Ring=B string fret 3
Strum: 4 strings (D to e — skip A and low E)

Songs: Knockin on Heavens Door — Bob Dylan, The Sound of Silence — Simon and Garfunkel, Losing My Religion — REM

D Major (D)

Bright open and joyful. One of the most used major chords on guitar. Essential for pop, country and folk music and the resolution chord in countless G major progressions.

e |--2--|
B |--3--|
G |--2--|
D |--0--|
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=e string fret 2  Middle=G string fret 2  Ring=B string fret 3
Strum: 4 strings (D to e — skip A and low E)

Songs: Fix You — Coldplay (capo 1), Wonderful Tonight — Eric Clapton, Take Me Home Country Roads — John Denver

D Power Chord (D5)

Root and fifth only. Clean and powerful. Works with any chord quality and sounds huge with distortion. The moveable version is one of the most used shapes in rock guitar.

e |-----|
B |-----|
G |-----|
D |--0--|
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Wait — D5 needs root and 5th only.
D string open = D (root)
A string fret 2 = B? no -- we need A (5th of D)
A string: 0=A -- open A is the 5th of D yes!

e |-----|
B |-----|
G |-----|
D |--0--|
A |--0--|
E |--x--|

But open A and open D together — that is just 2 open strings.
More commonly D5 is played:

e |-----|
B |-----|
G |--7--|
D |--7--|
A |--5--|
E |--x--|

Or in open position:
e |-----|
B |-----|
G |-----|
D |--0--|
A |--0--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Both open strings
Strum: A and D strings only

Songs: Rock rhythm guitar in D, power chord progressions, punk and alternative riffs

D Dominant 7th (D7)

The blues and country chord in D. Adds a flat 7th creating tension that wants to resolve to G. Essential for 12 bar blues in D and country progressions.

e |--2--|
B |--1--|
G |--2--|
D |--0--|
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=B string fret 1  Middle=G string fret 2  Ring=e string fret 2
Strum: 4 strings (D to e — skip A and low E)

Songs: 12 bar blues in D, country progressions resolving to G, Sweet Home Chicago variations

D Minor 7th (Dm7)

Smooth sophisticated and jazzy. The flat 7th added to Dm creates a cooler more sophisticated minor sound. Used constantly in jazz, soul and modern pop.

e |--1--|
B |--1--|
G |--2--|
D |--0--|
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=e string fret 1 AND B string fret 1 (small barre)
         Ring=G string fret 2
Strum: 4 strings (D to e — skip A and low E)

Songs: Jazz ii V I progressions, soul and R&B chord movements, sophisticated pop ballads

D Major 7th (Dmaj7)

Lush dreamy and sophisticated. The major 7th adds a floating warmth to D major. One of the most beautiful open chord voicings on guitar.

e |--2--|
B |--2--|
G |--2--|
D |--0--|
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index barre across e B G strings at fret 2
Strum: 4 strings (D to e — skip A and low E)

Songs: Jazz ballads, bossa nova, sophisticated pop progressions, emotional intros

D Suspended 2nd (Dsus2)

Open ambiguous and floating. One of the most used modern guitar chords. Neither major nor minor — creates an instant atmospheric quality loved in pop and rock.

Dsus2 notes: D E A (root 2nd 5th)

e |--0--|   E (2nd) yes
B |--3--|   D? -- B fret 3 = D yes (root)
           wait Dsus2 has E as 2nd not D on B
           B string fret 3 = D -- that is root doubling

Let me remap:
e string: 0=E (2nd) yes
B string: 3=D (root) or 0=B? 
          B open = B -- not in Dsus2
          B fret 3 = D yes
G string: 2=A (5th) yes -- G fret 2 = A yes
D string: 0=D (root) yes

e |--0--|   E (2nd)
B |--3--|   D (root)
G |--2--|   A (5th)
D |--0--|   D (root)
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Middle=G string fret 2  Ring=B string fret 3
Strum: 4 strings (D to e — skip A and low E)

Songs: Wonderwall — Oasis, modern pop verses, atmospheric indie rock

D Suspended 4th (Dsus4)

Tense and dramatic. The 4th replaces the 3rd creating tension that resolves beautifully to D major. Often played just before the full D chord for maximum impact.

Dsus4 notes: D G A (root 4th 5th)

e |--3--|   G (4th) -- e fret 3 = G yes
B |--3--|   G (4th) -- B fret 3 = G yes
G |--2--|   A (5th) -- G fret 2 = A yes
D |--0--|   D (root)
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

e |--3--|
B |--3--|
G |--2--|
D |--0--|
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=G string fret 2  Pinky=e string fret 3 AND B string fret 3
Strum: 4 strings (D to e — skip A and low E)

Songs: Pinball Wizard — The Who, classic Dsus4 to D resolutions, Tom Petty songs

D Add 9 (Dadd9)

D major with an added 9th (E) giving it extra sparkle and colour. Fuller and more sophisticated than plain D major without any unresolved tension.

Dadd9 notes: D F# A E (root 3rd 5th 9th)

e |--0--|   E (9th) yes
B |--3--|   D (root) -- B fret 3 = D yes
G |--2--|   A (5th) -- G fret 2 = A yes
D |--0--|   D (root)
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

e |--0--|
B |--3--|
G |--2--|
D |--0--|
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Middle=G string fret 2  Ring=B string fret 3
Strum: 4 strings (D to e — skip A and low E)

Rich and modern. The open high e string adds the 9th naturally making this one of the easiest add9 voicings on guitar. Beautiful for fingerpicking and emotional verse sections.

Songs: Modern pop ballads, fingerpicking patterns, emotional verse sections

D Diminished (Ddim)

Tense unstable and dramatic. Used as a passing chord — creates powerful chromatic movement between other chords. Appears in classical, jazz and dramatic rock passages.

Ddim notes: D F Ab (root minor 3rd flat 5th)

e |--1--|   F -- e fret 1 = F yes (minor 3rd)
B |--0--|   B? -- B open not in Ddim
           B fret 4 = Eb? -- B string: 0=B 1=C 2=C# 3=D 4=D# -- no
           Ab on B string: fret 9 -- too far
           Let us use:
e |--1--|   F (minor 3rd)
B |--4--|   D# -- wait Ddim has Ab not D#
           Ab = G# enharmonic
           B string fret 8 = G# yes but too far

Practical Ddim voicing:
e |--1--|   F
B |--0--|   B -- not ideal but practical
G |--0--|   G -- not in chord but open
D |--0--|   D (root)
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Better voicing:
e |--x--|
B |--4--|   D# -- enharmonic Eb close enough
           actually for Ddim: D F Ab
           Ab on B string = fret 9 too far
           
Most practical open Ddim:
e |--1--|
B |--3--|   D -- root doubling
G |--1--|   Ab? G fret 1 = G# = Ab yes!
D |--0--|   D (root)
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

e |--1--|
B |--3--|
G |--1--|
D |--0--|
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=e string fret 1 AND G string fret 1
         Ring=B string fret 3
Strum: 4 strings (D to e — skip A and low E)

Dark and unstable. Used as a chromatic passing chord between Dm and Em or as a dramatic tension chord in classical and jazz progressions.

Songs: Classical passing chords, jazz progressions, dramatic chromatic movements

D Augmented (Daug)

Mysterious and unsettling. The augmented 5th creates a floating tense quality. Used as a passing chord between D and Dm or G creating smooth chromatic voice leading.

Daug notes: D F# A# (root major 3rd augmented 5th)

e |--2--|   F# -- e fret 2 = F# yes (major 3rd)
B |--3--|   D -- B fret 3 = D (root) yes
G |--3--|   A# -- G fret 3 = A# yes (aug 5th)
D |--0--|   D (root)
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

e |--2--|
B |--3--|
G |--3--|
D |--0--|
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=e string fret 2  Middle=G string fret 3  Ring=B string fret 3
Strum: 4 strings (D to e — skip A and low E)

Creates mysterious floating tension. The classic use is D — Daug — G — Gm — a progression that moves chromatically through the 5th creating beautiful voice leading.

Songs: Jazz passing chords, D Daug G progressions, chromatic voice leading movements

Quick Reference — All D Chords

        Dm    D     D5    D7    Dm7
e       1     2     x     2     1
B       3     3     x     1     1
G       2     2     x     2     2
D       0     0     0     0     0
A       x     x     0     x     x
E       x     x     x     x     x

        Dmaj7 Dsus2 Dsus4 Dadd9 Ddim  Daug
e       2     0     3     0     1     2
B       2     3     3     3     3     3
G       2     2     2     2     1     3
D       0     0     0     0     0     0
A       x     x     x     x     x     x
E       x     x     x     x     x     x

Common D Chord Progressions

• D — G — A — D — classic I IV V I in D major. Country and folk foundation
• Dm — C — Bb — A — emotional minor progression in D
• D — Dsus4 — D — Dsus2 — D — classic suspension movement used in countless rock songs
• D — Daug — G — Gm — chromatic descending voice leading
• Dm7 — G7 — Cmaj7 — smooth jazz ii V I using D minor
• D — A — Bm — G — the I V vi IV. One of the most used pop progressions in D