How to Play the D Shape Chord on Guitar
The D shape is the open D chord moved to higher frets. Play open D with the middle, ring, and pinky fingers. Then move those 3 fingers to higher frets and press string 4 with the index finger.
The root, the note that names the chord, is on string 4 under the index finger. With the index at fret 5, you play G major. Unlike the E and A shapes, the D shape has no full barre and uses only strings 4 to 1. A barre means one finger presses several strings at the same fret.
See the CAGED overview for the full system. The sections below cover open D, the movable shape, chord names, muting, spacing mistakes, minor and 7th versions, the 3-string triad, practice, and the D shape's place in CAGED.
The open D chord you already know
String 1 is the thinnest string (high E), and string 6 is the thickest string (low E). Finger 1 is the index finger, and finger 4 is the pinky. Fret lists in this article run from string 4 to string 1 because strings 6 and 5 are not played.
The open D chord contains these notes:
- String 4, open: D, the root.
- String 3, fret 2: A, the perfect 5th.
- String 2, fret 3: D, the root 1 octave higher.
- String 1, fret 2: F♯, the major 3rd.
String 4 is open, so the nut sets that note. When you move the shape to higher frets, the index finger presses string 4 at the new fret.
Turning open D into a movable shape
Change the fingers on the open D chord
Play open D again with different fingers. Put the middle finger on string 3, the pinky on string 2, and the ring finger on string 1. Keep the index finger free, then pick strings 4 to 1 separately and check that each string rings.
Move it to a higher fret
Place the index finger on string 4 at fret n. Put the middle finger on string 3 at fret n+2, the pinky on string 2 at fret n+3, and the ring finger on string 1 at fret n+2.
The D shape spans 4 frets, from fret n to fret n+3. It covers more frets than the other movable major CAGED shapes.
Keep fret n+1 empty
No finger presses fret n+1. This empty fret creates the required space between the index and the other fingers.
A common mistake is placing the other fingers 1 fret closer to the index. That spacing produces the wrong chord, so check that fret n+1 remains empty.
An alternative finger placement
You can lay the ring finger across strings 3 and 1 at fret n+2, with the pinky on string 2 at fret n+3. Use the finger placement that lets all 4 strings ring.
Naming the chord from string 4
The root on string 4 at fret n names the chord. The same root appears on string 2 at fret n+3, 1 octave higher.
| Index fret on string 4 | Chord |
|---|---|
| Fret 1 | D♯ major or E♭ major |
| Fret 2 | E major |
| Fret 3 | F major |
| Fret 5 | G major |
| Fret 7 | A major |
| Fret 9 | B major |
| Fret 10 | C major |
| Fret 12 | D major, 1 octave higher than open D |
Here are 3 examples, with frets listed from string 4 to string 1:
- E major: frets 2, 4, 5, 4.
- G major: frets 5, 7, 8, 7.
- A major: frets 7, 9, 10, 9.
Muting string 6 and string 5, and other common mistakes
Strum only strings 4 to 1
Start each strum on string 4. Let the tip of the index finger touch string 5 without pressing it to stop that string from ringing.
Keep string 6 silent by leaving it out of the strum. You can also let the thumb touch string 6 without pressing it.
The 4-fret stretch
Keep the thumb behind the neck, roughly behind the middle finger. This hand position gives the pinky room to reach fret n+3.
Begin at frets 5 to 7, where the frets are narrower. Keep the wrist relaxed as you place each finger.
Muted string 1
Keep the ring finger curved as it presses string 1. If the pad of the middle finger touches string 1 or string 2, arch the fingers more and press with the fingertips.
Pick each string separately after adjusting your hand. String 1 should ring without touching either neighboring finger.
Optional bass notes
String 5 at fret n is the perfect 5th. You can lay the index across strings 5 and 4 to include that bass note, as in G/D.
String 6 at fret n+2 is the major 3rd, as in G/B. This follows the same relationship as open D/F♯. Add either bass note only when the song calls for that slash chord.
Minor and 7th versions of the D shape
Minor
For the minor version, move string 1 from fret n+2 to fret n+1. This changes the major 3rd to a minor 3rd.
Place the index on string 4 at fret n, the ring on string 3 at fret n+2, the pinky on string 2 at fret n+3, and the middle on string 1 at fret n+1.
Examples from string 4 to string 1 are F minor at frets 3, 5, 6, 4 and G minor at frets 5, 7, 8, 6.
Dominant 7
For the dominant 7 version, move string 2 from fret n+3 to fret n+1. The root on string 2 becomes the flat 7th.
Place the index on string 4 at fret n, the ring on string 3 at fret n+2, the middle on string 2 at fret n+1, and the pinky on string 1 at fret n+2.
Examples from string 4 to string 1 are G7 at frets 5, 7, 6, 7 and B7 at frets 9, 11, 10, 11.
Major 7
For the major 7 version, move string 2 from fret n+3 to fret n+2. That note is the major 7th.
Strings 3, 2, and 1 now sit at fret n+2. Lay the ring finger across those strings and keep the index on string 4 at fret n. Gmaj7 uses frets 5, 7, 7, 7.
| Version | String that changes | Example at index fret 5 | Notes from string 4 to string 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major | Reference version | G: frets 5, 7, 8, 7 | G, D, G, B |
| Minor | String 1 | Gm: frets 5, 7, 8, 6 | G, D, G, B♭ |
| Dominant 7 | String 2 | G7: frets 5, 7, 6, 7 | G, D, F, B |
| Major 7 | String 2 | Gmaj7: frets 5, 7, 7, 7 | G, D, F♯, B |
The 3-string D shape triad
Strings 3 to 1 contain a triad, a chord with 3 notes. Its fret formula is n+2, n+3, n+2, which gives the perfect 5th, root, and major 3rd.
For G major, play frets 7, 8, 7 on strings 3, 2, and 1. You do not need the index finger for this smaller shape.
This triangle is the part of the D shape often used for rhythm parts and fills. Move all 3 fingers by the same number of frets to change the chord.
The same 3 notes appear on strings 3 to 1 of the C shape for that chord.
A practice routine
Start at fret 5
Try this now for 2 minutes. Play G major at frets 5, 7, 8, 7 from string 4 to string 1.
Place the index first, then add the other fingers. Check that fret 6 stays empty and pick each string separately to confirm that it rings.
Major, minor, 7 in place
Keep the root at fret 5 and alternate between G major, G minor, and G7. Only 1 string changes each time, so you can hear how each changed note affects the chord.
Use frets 5, 7, 8, 7 for G, frets 5, 7, 8, 6 for Gm, and frets 5, 7, 6, 7 for G7.
From the E shape to the D shape
Play G major with the E shape at fret 3. Then move the index to string 4 at fret 5 and play the D shape at frets 5, 7, 8, 7.
In the E shape, the pinky already presses the root that becomes the D shape's index note. Keep the same tempo as you move between the 2 shapes.
Where the D shape fits in CAGED
For the same chord, the E shape sits at lower frets and the C shape at higher frets. For C major, the E shape uses a barre at fret 8 and covers frets 8 to 10. The D shape starts with its string 4 root at fret 10 and covers frets 10 to 13. The C shape covers frets 12 to 15.
The shapes overlap through shared notes. The E shape root on string 4 at fret 10 becomes the D shape's root. The D shape notes on strings 3 to 1 at frets 12, 13, 12 are also part of the C shape.
You can also study how the D shape connects with the A shape and G shape. The CAGED overview shows how all 5 shapes link together.
In Guitamania, go to the chord library and open C major. Open the CAGED system view, then tap D to see the D shape at frets 10 to 13.