D9 chord on guitar

D9 is D, F♯, A, C and E. The usual shape is x-5-4-5-3-0. Hit Play and watch each string light as it sounds.

x-5-4-5-3-0 · open · medium

Notes: D · F♯ · A · C · E
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
First shape: x-5-4-5-3-0

How to play D9 on guitar

Shape 1, x-5-4-5-3-0, reading from the low E string on the left:

D: index finger, 3rd fret of the B string.
F♯: middle finger, 4th fret of the D string.
D: ring finger, 5th fret of the A string.
C: pinky finger, 5th fret of the G string.
Leave the high E string open: E.
Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.
The pinky takes a note here. Keep it curved and close to the fretboard between chords so it has less distance to travel.

Other ways to play D9

10-12-10-11-10-12: barre shape at the 10th fret, medium. The root is on the low E string, so you can slide this shape to play any dominant ninth chord.
10-7-7-7-7-8: partial barre shape at the 7th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

Playing D9 with a capo

With a capo you can skip the harder shapes: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open C9 shape (x-3-2-3-3-3). Everything above the capo is fingered exactly like the open chord.

Changing from D9 to the chords around it

The chords D9 usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

G (dominant, pulls to the chord a fifth below): D9 (x-5-4-5-3-0) to G (3-2-0-0-0-3): move the index finger to the A string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the low E string, 3rd fret, the ring finger goes to the high E string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. D carries over from one chord to the other. G on guitar
Gmaj7 (I in G major): D9 (x-5-4-5-3-0) to Gmaj7 (3-2-0-0-0-2): the index finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the high E string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the low E string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for D and F♯, which stay put while the rest moves. Gmaj7 on guitar
Em7 (vi in G major): D9 (x-5-4-5-3-0) to Em7 (0-2-0-0-0-0): your index finger lands on the A string, 2nd fret. Shared notes: D and E. Em7 on guitar

D9 is a dominant ninth: D7 with the ninth on top. D9 is the funk and soul version of D7, fuller on top and still pulling toward its resolution. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

A short D9 drill

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: D, F♯, C, D, E. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Then switch to 10-12-10-11-10-12 and back four times without looking at your hand.

Where D9 shows up

D9 on piano and ukulele

The same notes on another instrument: D9 on piano and D9 on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.

Related D chords on guitar

Other dominant ninth chords

D9 on guitar: questions

What notes are in D9 on guitar?

D, F♯, A, C and E. In the x-5-4-5-3-0 shape the strings play D (A string), F♯ (D string), C (G string), D (B string) and E (high E string, open).

What's the easiest way to play D9 on guitar?

D9 takes a little stretching on guitar; start with x-5-4-5-3-0. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, with open strings, and in many songs a capo can take over part of the work.

Is D9 a barre chord on guitar?

Not the usual shape: x-5-4-5-3-0 needs no barre. The barre versions come later, higher on the neck.

Which string does D9 start on?

In the x-5-4-5-3-0 shape the lowest string you play is the A string at the 5th fret, which is D, the root. Skip the low E string.

Every shape above plays only D, F♯, A, C and E, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.