D minor is an easy chord to learn and play, consisting of just three notes – D, F and A – which can be arranged any which way on the fretboard.
For a basic Dm shape, place your index finger on the 1st fret of the B string and your ring finger on the 2nd fret of G string, placing them accordingly and strumming all four strings without touching A or low E string.
Basics
The D minor guitar chord (abbreviated Dmin) consists of the notes D, F and A and is an essential chord for all guitarists to master. There are various variations available so as to increase depth and versatility when using this chord in music genres such as pop or alternative rock music.
One of the easiest and most frequent methods of playing a D minor chord with two fingers is by placing your index finger at the first fret on each string and your middle finger at the second fret on all three strings, leaving only four and five strings open.
This chord may sound discordant compared to its Dm counterpart, but it works very well in heavier musical genres such as metal. Additionally, this voicing trains your hand to keep finger 2 free which will assist in the future when creating more complex D minor chords using three or more fingers. Furthermore, you could use this voicing for practice of Dsus2, which sounds similar to D major but provides another benefit of training your hand to keep finger 2 free.
Inversions
Inverting chords are simply ways of reconfiguring their triad. By shifting its notes around within its respective octave span, inversions allow for endless tonal variation as well as vertical and lateral movement on the fretboard.
Example 3a shows a typical D minor barre chord in fifth position; you could try playing it open using only the open D string (Example 3b). This version might sound quite muddy and dark; however, it could work nicely as part of metal-style guitar chords.
Practice shifting shapes and moving your fingers across the fretboard by playing inverted versions of songs you know; soon they will become part of your musical vocabulary! Learning guitar can be so rewarding; it’s like seeing old friends through new eyes!
Variations
There are multiple ways to play a chord on guitar. Because each chord contains only 12 notes and six strings, every chord offers multiple fingering options. One popular open chord for beginners to start learning is the D minor chord; its two finger fretting makes it simple and melancholic sound is great for starting off your musical journey.
The first variation of a D minor chord is a barre chord in fifth position (see Example 3a). All five strings are barred except the low E string which may remain unfretted for a suspended sounding chord effect.
Another variation is the D major seventh chord, which shares its root note and intervals with D minor but can be played on all six strings. You could try switching back and forth between these chords for an interesting sound; practicing all variations of your favorite open chords so they become second nature can ensure you use them confidently in any song.
Final Words
Guitarists can create an infinite number of different chord types, each with its own distinctive sound. But generally speaking, chords fall into two main categories – major chords and minor chords. Major chords usually sound joyful while minor chords have more melancholic tones.
Many artists have utilized the Dm chord in their songs. Kaleo seamlessly switches between blues-driven rock and ambient acoustic folk on “All The Pretty Girls,” while Trisha Yearwood uses its use to set an unsettling atmosphere of what might have been.
This distinctive D voicing sounds very bass heavy, making it perfect for dark metal genres such as metalcore and rock jams alike. Although not quite a standard Dm chord, this can serve as an effective alternative for beginners learning fingering skills for the standard version. Just be careful not to strumming both low E string and high A string simultaneously to avoid producing an unpleasant muddy sound!
The D minor chord is one of the introductory open minor chords most students experience when beginning guitar studies. With its sad sound and weighty quality, it adds dimension and power to songs.
There are various variations that make the Dsus2 chord easier to play, such as Dsus2 (shown). Try leaving out your middle finger from string 1 for an alternative version of this shape.
Triad
Triads are three-note chords that can stand alone or serve as building blocks for larger four and five note chords. Each triad has a distinctive sound and can be classified as either major, minor, or diminished based on its root note and third note interval structure.
Knowledge of triad shapes is integral to developing an excellent musical ear and becoming a more innovative guitarist. Understanding their interrelations will give you a clearer idea of what your fretboard looks like when comping or soloing over chord progressions.
Major triads are consonant and stable chords, making them suitable for many genres such as rock, folk, and country music. Judah & The Lion’s song “Take It All Back 2.0” uses a dominant Dm chord to set the mood of past, present, and future love relationships.
Intervals
Intervals form the building blocks of all of our guitar playing: chords, scales and arpeggios. Every interval has both a number and quality designation such as major or minor that describes its distance between notes as well as how those notes sound together when strung together.
Intervals on the fretboard can be adjusted easily and it’s crucial that players understand how this works. Intervals may be moved up or down by half steps to change how they sound.
Moving a major third up one fret creates a minor second chord and dramatically alters how it sounds, adding tension and creating new patterns of sounds in the chord.
As you explore different intervals, it’s also important to keep in mind that each interval has its own distinct sound; this helps when creating chords and phrases as it allows you to target specific intervals to achieve the sound and feeling desired – for instance major intervals would create relaxation while minor ones create tension.
Barre Chords
D minor barre chords are an emotive and melancholic guitar chord that can be found in folk, rock and blues music. While very easy to play, barre chords require practice and endurance in order to maintain. Due to their strength-intensive nature, barre chords should become part of your daily practice routine in order to strengthen finger and hand strength.
To play a D minor bar chord, start by placing your index finger across all six strings at the fifth fret to form your bar. Next, place your middle finger on string 3 (G) at its second fret while your ring finger remains placed on string 2 (B). Finally, play this chord by moving between its four positions: index finger across all six strings at its fifth fret then placing three fingers onto two strings each, middle on G and third frets; ring finger at third fret on B2.
Strum the chord and adjust your fingers if there are any buzzing strings, as well as mutes the sixth string with your index finger to make the chord sound fuller and thicker. Barre chords can also be helpful as you can move them up or down the fretboard to form different chord shapes.
Open Chords
This open chord features a melancholy sound that many guitarists find suitable for singer-songwriter and contemporary music, making it one of the first chords many guitarists learn due to its simple shape and comprehensive set of notes for basic chord progressions.
Make sure to keep your fingers close together when playing barre and open chords to avoid accidentally muzzling other strings as you play these chords. Start slowly at first before gradually increasing strength by practicing these chords more frequently – this will prevent finger pain as you learn how to play barre and open chords.
Another easy variation of this chord can be made using the same hand position but with your index finger barred across the fifth fret. This produces a richer sounding version and can even be used when playing songs requiring you to mute top two bass strings. This exercise can be beneficial for those with small or fat fingers as it familiarizes your fingers with positioning and fingering requirements required for barre chords.