D is a major, spelled D, F# and A. In Standard tuning (E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4) the easiest shape is xx0232, which sits at fret 2, needs a barre across 3 strings at fret 2, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 2 strings. 12 positions for it are shown below, from the nut up to fret 14.
Notes and intervals
Note
D
F#
A
Interval
1P
3M
5P
12 ways to play it
Ordered by how hard they are to fret, easiest first, one per position on the neck. Fret numbers are relative to the position marked beside each grid.
xx0232sits at fret 2, needs a barre across 3 strings at fret 2, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 2 stringsxx0775sits at fret 5, spans 2 frets, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 2 strings1000111010sits at fret 10, spans 1 fret and lets 2 strings ring open10901110xsits at fret 9, spans 2 frets, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 1 string554xxxsits at fret 4, spans 1 fret and mutes 3 stringsxx077xsits at fret 7, needs a barre across 2 strings at fret 7, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 3 stringsxx0141514sits at fret 14, needs a barre across 3 strings at fret 14, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 2 stringsx0011xxsits at fret 11, needs no stretch at all, lets 2 strings ring open and mutes 3 stringsx04735sits at fret 3, spans 4 frets, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 1 string1401214xxsits at fret 12, spans 2 frets, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 2 strings200232sits at fret 2, spans 1 fret and lets 2 strings ring openx00232sits at fret 2, needs a barre across 3 strings at fret 2, lets 2 strings ring open and mutes 1 string
The five shapes
Every shape below is one of the five open chords moved up the neck, with a finger — or the nut — standing in for the open strings. D turns up as a D shape, a C shape, an A shape, a G shape and an E shape: D at the nut, C at fret 2, A at fret 5, G at fret 7, E at fret 10.
D shapeD as a D shape: the open shape itself, fingered xx0232 against the nut.C shapeD as a C shape: barre at fret 2, fingered x54232.A shapeD as an A shape: barre at fret 5, fingered x57775.G shapeD as a G shape: barre at fret 7, fingered 10977710.E shapeD as an E shape: barre at fret 10, fingered 101212111010.
Keys D belongs to
D is diatonic to 24 of the 96 keys this app knows, playing a different role in each.