Need to learn how to play the D major chord on guitar? Check out the chord chart and photo below to see how to play the D chord with ease!
How to play the D Major guitar chord: Chart, Photo, and Description
To play the D Major chord, place your left hand fingers on the following strings and frets:
- Index (Finger 1): Fret 2, String 3 (A)
- Middle (Finger 2): Fret 2, String 1 (F#)
- Ring (Finger 3): Fret 3, String 2 (D)
- You can also play String 4 (open D string)
- Avoid playing the string 6 (low E) and string 5 (low A), which has an “X” in the box diagram above. Although the low A note is technically part of the D major chord and won’t sound terrible, more often you’ll want to play string 4 (D) as the lowest note. This is the root of the chord!
The D chord is one of those shapes that looks deceptively easy, but beginners might find it surprisingly difficult to play cleanly.
One reason this chord is difficult is because finger 3 (on fret 3, string 2) has a tendency to mute string 1. If you feel like the chord is not very full or vibrant, play each string individually to hear whether or not this is happening to you. If it is, then lower your left hand thumb slightly to create more leverage, and try to place finger 3 higher up on string 2.
Another reason that D major can be difficult to play is because all of your fingers are on the top strings. If you’re a beginner, then up to this point most of the chords you’ve played have been more on the bass strings or middle of the neck. As a result, playing the D chord can suddenly feel a little vulnerable, like you’re fighting gravity.
To feel more secure, make sure your left hand thumb isn’t too high up on the back of the neck. By keeping the thumb low, this will help stabilize your other fingers.
What are the notes in a D Major chord?
The notes of the D chord are:
- D (Root)
- F# (Third)
- A (Fifth)
