D Major
Open PositionThe classic open D chord — bright and resonant. Do not strum the low E and A strings; begin from the open D string.
D Major
5th FretA-shape barre chord rooted on D at the 5th fret. Warm and full sounding. Usually strummed from the A string downward.
D Major
10th FretE-shape barre chord rooted on the low E string at the 10th fret. Full six-string voicing great for upper-register rhythm playing.
D Power Chord
5th FretD5 power chord rooted on the A string (5th fret), with A on the D string and octave D on the G string. Low E is muted. Tight and powerful for rock.
D Major
7th Fret (Top)Compact D major triad on the top three strings around the 7th fret. Excellent for lead rhythm and layering.
Tips for Playing the D Chord
Arch your fingers
Keep fretting fingers arched on their tips so they don't accidentally mute the open D string below.
Avoid the low strings
In the open D shape, neither the low E nor the A string is played. Aim your strum to start cleanly from the open D string.
Cluster your fingers
The three fingers form a tight triangular cluster on the top strings. Practice placing them all down at once rather than one at a time.
Learn the barre too
Once the open shape is solid, the A-shape barre at fret 5 lets you play D anywhere on the neck with a fuller sound.
Dsus2 as a shortcut
Opening the B string gives you Dsus2 — only two fingers needed, and it works great in acoustic and folk contexts.
Common progressions
D → A → Bm → G is one of the most-used progressions in pop and rock. D also resolves naturally to A7 and pairs well with G and Em.
About the D Chord on Guitar
The D major chord is built from three notes: D, F♯, and A. It's one of the first chords guitarists learn, and it appears in countless songs across pop, rock, folk, and country. The open D shape has a bright, resonant character that's immediately recognizable. This page covers five different voicings — from the open beginner shape all the way to advanced barre chord positions higher up the neck. Every diagram is interactive and playable with real acoustic guitar sound, so you can hear exactly what each shape sounds like before you try it.
- 015 D major chord shapes from beginner to advanced
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Real acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Open position, barre, and high-position voicings
- 05Difficulty rating on every shape
- 06Free — no sign-up or download needed
Anatomy
Chord Tones
The 3 notes that form the D Major chord and their role in the major scale.
Every major chord follows this same formula — root, major third, perfect fifth.