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D Guitar Chord

D guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/3
Chord shapes:(3 positions)
DGuitar fingering diagram for D1234××132STRING6ª×5ª×4ªD3ªA2ªD1ªF#
View HD sheet

What sets D apart

The notes of D are D, F# and A. D is the root, F# the major third and A the fifth. Said aloud, its notes are D, F sharp and A.

String by string, low to high, it plays D, A, D and F#. The root, D, shows up twice in the main shape. It runs from D on string 4 up to F# on string 1.

In D, only one string rings open, string 4, which gives D. Strings 6 and 5 stay silent. Your hand covers two frets, from 2 to 3. This page has three positions. The others start at frets 5 and 10.

Change only string 1 in D and you have Dm. D and Bm have D and F# in common. Bm shares two positions with this shape.

D belongs to seven keys. In D major it is the I, in G major the V and in A major the IV. The rest appear in the key list. Further down there are two songs that use it.

Chord Progressions

Harmonic circles featuring the D chord:

01D D - Bm - Em - A702F#m F#m - D - Bm - C#7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (D)

Formula: Major Triad (1 - 3 - 5)
Constituent chord intervals:

D 1F# 3A 5

Root Bass (Fundamental String)4th String (D) • Fret 0 (D)

String Control (Muted & Active)4 / 6 • 2 X Muted

3 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for D:

01

Standard

Standard Position
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 4th String (D)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
5th String (A)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
4th String (D)
○Open
DDegree 1
3rd String (G)
Fret 2Finger 1
ADegree 5
2nd String (B)
Fret 3Finger 3
DDegree 1
1st String (High E)
Fret 2Finger 2
F#Degree 3

Placement tip: Press: 3rd String (G) at fret 2 with your Index finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 3 with your Ring finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 2 with your Middle finger. Play open: 4th String (D). Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 5th String (A).

02

Barre 5

Barre fret 5
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 5Barre
DDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 7
ADegree 5
3rd String (G)
Fret 7
DDegree 1
2nd String (B)
Fret 7
F#Degree 3
1st String (High E)
Fret 5Barre
ADegree 5

Placement tip: Barre fret 5. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 7, 3rd String (G) at fret 7, 2nd String (B) at fret 7. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

03

Barre 10

Barre fret 10
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 10Barre
DDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 12
ADegree 5
4th String (D)
Fret 12
DDegree 1
3rd String (G)
Fret 11
F#Degree 3
2nd String (B)
Fret 10Barre
ADegree 5
1st String (High E)
Fret 10Barre
DDegree 1

Placement tip: Barre fret 10. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 12, 4th String (D) at fret 12, 3rd String (G) at fret 11.

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (D)

Standard Position
Key Principle:

Form a compact triangle with fingers 1, 2 and 3. Keep finger 3 nicely arched away from the 1st string.

Thumb Placement: May rest slightly over the top of the neck to gently mute the 6th string.

Most Common Beginner Mistake:

Letting finger 3 collapse into the high E string, or unintentionally striking the low E and A strings during strumming.

Immediate Solution: Test the 1st string independently. If muffled, rotate your forearm outward slightly so finger 3 hits the fretboard on its very tip.

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets2 to 3
Fretting fingers3
Open4th
Muted6th and 5th

What to check

The open 4th string sits next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from D

Listen: D → G · A · Bm

  1. D
  2. G
  3. D
  4. A
  5. D
  6. Bm
D → G01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Finger 3 (Ring)

Keep finger 3 fixed on string 2 fret 3 and reach fingers 1 and 2 up to strings 5 and 6.

D → A02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Finger 1 (Index)

Slide finger 1 back slightly on string 3 fret 2 and cluster fingers 2 and 3 on the same fret.

D → Bm03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Treble V-Shape

Shift hand position to fret 2 and lay index finger across all strings for the barre.

D in every key

D sits in the scale of 7 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
2/5
Highest fret
3
Frets the hand covers
2
Barre
No
Strings that ring
4/6
Fretting fingers
3

D on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.UkuleleD on four strings, with sound.BassD as a low-register arpeggio.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Songs with this chord

Famous songs featuring this chord (D)

Well-known songs where this chord plays a clear role

01"With or Without You"U2 • 1987Part of the chord loop that repeats through most of the song (D - A - Bm - G).
02"Sweet Child O' Mine"Guns N' Roses • 1987Opens the verse (D - C - G - D).
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (D)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the D chord?

To play the D chord on guitar, only 4 strings are played, from string 4 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the D chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the D chord is its root note: D. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 4 at fret 0.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the D chord and what is its formula?

The D chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 formula (Major Triad). Its constituent pitches are D, F#, A.

How do you prevent the D chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the D chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

What famous songs use the D chord?

"With or Without You" (U2, 1987). Part of the chord loop that repeats through most of the song (D - A - Bm - G).

"Sweet Child O' Mine" (Guns N' Roses, 1987). Opens the verse (D - C - G - D).

Study sheet · High resolution

Official D chord diagram

D guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheetView circle (D)→

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Other chords in the D family:

Chord Db Chord Dm Chord D7 Chord Db7 Chord Dmaj7 Chord Dbmaj7 Chord Dm7 Chord Dsus2