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If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, the D chord is the very first chord grip we learn! Why? Well, it's an essential grip for all guitar players, and you'll find it in many songs - no matter the music style you're playing.
You'll be happy to hear it's not too tricky to play; you need fingers 1, 2, and 3 to play it. Here's how to D chord looks on a chord diagram. Take a good look at the chord diagram, and make a mental note of where each finger goes!
Now, grab your guitar, and let's get started! :)
The D chord uses three fingers, so let's learn how to play it in three easy steps! The best way to learn a new grip is by putting your fingers down in this order. Ready? Here we go!
Place your 1st finger in the 2nd fret on String 3 - it's the 3rd one up from the bottom.
Place your 2nd finger in the 2nd fret on String 1 - the bottom, thinnest string.
Place your 3rd finger in the 3rd fret on String 2.
💡 You might need to stretch your 3rd finger to get it close to the fret. That might be tricky, but don't worry - it gets easier with practice.
We'll check out a few tricks to make it all easier in the following few lessons, but for now, remember to keep your fingers as close to the fret as possible. Using a positive finger placement will help give you a better sound.
To play the D chord, we only strum the first four strings starting from the bottom. If you're comfortable reading chord boxes? You'll notice that, in the diagram, the 4th string is marked with an O.
This means we play the string, but there are no fingers on it - it's an open string! Strings 5 and 6 are marked with an X, meaning we don't play those strings. Finally, please give it a strum! Strum down softly on the thinnest four strings with your thumb.
Congratulations! You just played the D Chord. How does it feel? :) Don't worry if it sounds rough; that's normal at this early stage! Now, let's look at how to get that D Chord sounding nice and clear.
Here is a 4-step process to help you solve common beginner problems you might have when learning a new chord:
Place your fingers on the correct strings in the right frets. Use the chord box diagram to guide you if you need it.
Press down on the strings and strum the chord. If it doesn't sound great, no worries! We'll fix it.
Play the strings one at a time. Each note should ring out true and clear. If they don't, we must find and fix the problem. Follow these steps, and let's find it together!
Start by playing the open 4th string. If it sounds muted, it's probably because your 1st finger is touching it.
Next, check the 3rd string. If it's not ringing clear, ensure your finger is near the fret and that you're pressing hard enough. It might hurt a bit at first. Also, ensure that your 3rd finger isn't touching the 3rd string. The slightest touch will stop the note from ringing out. We all struggle with this, so if you find keeping each finger on its string hard, don't beat yourself up over it. Time and practice will fix this!
Check the 2nd string, which you play with the 3rd finger. The challenge here is getting your finger up close enough to the fret. You'll probably find it harder than you expected. But don't worry! Your fingers are amazingly flexible. You'll soon wonder how you ever found it hard!
Finally, let's try the thinnest string. For many people, the underneath of the 3rd finger often touches the string. To avoid this, play each string with your fingertips.
Strum the chord again. Does it sound better? It should! If not, go through the steps again to check your finger position. You'll know when you've got it. The chord should ring out clear and true.
Fingernails: Keep your fingernails trimmed. Long nails make it hard to fret the strings with your fingertips!
Painful Fingers: Your fingers probably hurt, right? Same for me, when I started. For now, don't press too hard on the strings while you're practicing your finger placements. Also, try to practice often for shorter periods rather than less often in long, marathon sessions.
🚨 Time and practice will make your fingertips stronger! Make sure you've seen these tips on how to avoid finger pain.
Thumb Position: Keep your thumb behind the neck, and don't let it rest in the palm of your hand. It'll help build the muscle between your thumb and 1st finger, handy for barre chords. You'll thank me later on your journey! :)
Don't forget: memorizing chords is super important! Visualize it. Sometimes, chords have alternative fingerings - but not the D chord. Some play it differently, like the acoustic legend James Taylor, but I don't recommend you try it (we're not quite there yet!).
The best way to practice is with My Practice Assistant. It's free - make sure you've logged in, and you can organize and keep track of your practice schedule through your dashboard. You'll find your first practice routine at the end of this module.
We'll develop all the skills to play chords as we go along. So don't worry if you have questions right now. We'll explore them shortly! Don't forget that you can get some help at the JustinGuitar Community. I do my best to answer them all - or you'll get help from one of the JustinGuitar official mentors! :)
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