D Guitar Chord
D Major · D–F#–A
D is the D major chord: D–F#–A. Its sound is bright and resolved — the foundational happy sound of pop, rock, country, and folk.
You'll meet D constantly because it lives in several common keys: it's the I chord in D major, the IV chord in A major, and the V chord in G major. That makes it a building block of I–IV–V and I–V–vi–IV progressions in those keys.
The easiest way to play D is the open-position shape (x x 0 2 3 2, low E string to high E string), which uses open strings and stays in the first few frets. Below you'll find 6 ways to play it across the neck, from open position to barre and shell voicings, with the theory behind the chord and the progressions it lives in.
How to Play D: 6 Voicings
Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.
D Chord Theory
| Interval | R | 3 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | D | F# | A |
D is built from the D major scale.
D Chord FAQ
What notes are in the D chord?
D contains 3 notes: D (R), F# (3), A (5). The interval formula for a major chord is R–3–5.
What is the easiest way to play D on guitar?
Use the open-position shape: x x 0 2 3 2 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). It uses open strings, so it needs the least finger strength.
What is the difference between D and Dm?
One note: the 3rd. D major uses the major 3rd (F#) while D minor flattens it to F. That half-step is the entire difference between the bright major sound and the darker minor sound.
What keys use the D chord?
D appears diatonically in D major (as I), A major (as IV), and G major (as V) — plus B minor, its relative minor key.
Related Chords
Hear yourself play D
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