Dm Chord on Guitar
Notes D F A. Start with open Dm (x x 0 2 3 1): index on string 1 fret 1, middle on string 3 fret 2, ring on string 2 fret 3; strum strings 4 to 1.
Chord · Dm minor
Open Dm · x x 0 2 3 1
open strings
Am-shape barre (fret 5) · x 5 7 7 6 5
barre, movable
Em-shape barre (fret 10) · 10 12 12 10 10 10
barre, movable
1 D♭3 F5 A
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): open
- String 3 (G): middle (2), fret 2
- String 2 (B): ring (3), fret 3
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 1
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at fret 5
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 5
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 7
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 7
- String 2 (B): middle (2), fret 6
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 5
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 6 to 1 at fret 10
- String 6 (low E): index (1), fret 10
- String 5 (A): ring (3), fret 12
- String 4 (D): pinky (4), fret 12
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 10
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 10
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 10
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from D |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | root |
| ♭3 | F | minor 3rd |
| 5 | A | perfect 5th |
Formula 1 ♭3 5 (minor).
Also written Dmin, D minor.
More on this chord type: Open (cowboy) chords
Capo shapes that sound as Dm
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
Am shape + capo 5
Need the capo fret for a whole song? Capo calculator: any song key, any shapes. New to the capo? How to use a capo.
Progressions with Dm
| Key · progression | Chords | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| D minor i–iv–v–i | Dm – Gm – Am – Dm | |
| D minor i–VII–VI–VII | Dm – C – B♭ – C | |
| F major I–V–vi–IV | F – C – Dm – B♭ | |
| F major I–vi–IV–V | F – Dm – B♭ – C | |
| C major I–vi–ii–V | C – Am – Dm – G |
Keys that contain Dm
| Key | Dm is the |
|---|---|
| D minor | i |
| G minor | v |
| A minor | iv |
| F major | vi |
| C major | ii |
| B♭ major | iii |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing Dm: what goes wrong
Index right behind the fret
The index on string 1 at fret 1 buzzes when it sits in the middle of the fret. Keep it close to the fret wire and on its tip so it does not touch string 2.
D and Dm differ on string 1
D has F♯ on string 1 (fret 2), Dm has F (fret 1). Strings 4, 3 and 2 (D, A, D) are the same in both.
Related chords
Learn and practise Dm
- Metronomepractise the change to Dm at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in Dm?
D, F, A: the 1, ♭3, 5 of the Dm minor chord.
What is the difference between Dm and D?
One note: Dm is D, F, A and D major is D, F♯, A. In the open shapes the top string moves from fret 2 to fret 1.