D minor chord on guitar (Dm)

Dm is D, F and A. The easiest shape is x-x-0-2-3-1. Tap Play, then slow it down.

x-x-0-2-3-1 · open · easy

Notes: D · F · A
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · 5
First shape: x-x-0-2-3-1

How to play Dm on guitar

Shape 1, x-x-0-2-3-1, reading from the low E string on the left:

Put your index finger on the high E string at the 1st fret, which is F.
Put your middle finger on the G string at the 2nd fret, which is A.
Put your ring finger on the B string at the 3rd fret, which is D.
The open D string adds D; don't touch it.
Skip the low E and A strings and begin the strum from the D string.

Arch your fingers so their tips come down vertically. That keeps them off the open strings, which have to ring for the chord to sound complete.
Aim the strum at the thinner strings only; the lower ones are marked × for a reason.

Other ways to play Dm

10-12-12-10-10-10: barre shape at the 10th fret, medium. Built on the Em open shape with the barre as a movable nut; the root is on the 6th string.
x-5-7-7-6-5: barre shape at the 5th fret, medium. This is the open Am shape with a barre behind it, root on the 5th string.

Capo shortcuts for Dm

No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 5th fret and play the open Am shape (x-0-2-2-1-0). The chord sounds as Dm because the capo raises every string by 5 half steps.

Dm chord changes

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

G (V in C major): Dm (x-x-0-2-3-1) to G (3-2-0-0-0-3): your index finger lands on the A string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the low E string, 3rd fret, the ring finger slides across to the high E string at the same fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Listen for D, which stays put while the rest moves. G on guitar
F (IV in C major): Dm (x-x-0-2-3-1) to F (1-3-3-2-1-1): your middle finger stays put, the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 1st fret, the ring finger goes to the A string, 3rd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the D string, 3rd fret. Shared notes: F and A. F on guitar
C (I in C major): Dm (x-x-0-2-3-1) to C (x-3-2-0-1-0): the index finger slides across to the B string at the same fret, the middle finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, your ring finger lands on the A string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. C on guitar

Dm has the gentle, slightly melancholy sound of a minor chord. A minor chord softens a progression. Try Dm right after D major to hear how much one note changes. The slow arpeggio button above makes that quality easy to hear.

Practice Dm in two minutes

Before strumming, play x-x-0-2-3-1 note by note: D then A then D then F. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Finish by moving between x-x-0-2-3-1 and 10-12-12-10-10-10 to learn two positions of the same chord.

Dm in context

In D minor, i–VI–III–VII on guitar is Dm (x-x-0-2-3-1), B♭ (x-1-3-3-3-1), F (1-3-3-2-1-1) and C (x-3-2-0-1-0). About the minor anthem.

In D minor, i–iv–V on guitar is Dm (x-x-0-2-3-1), Gm (3-5-5-3-3-3) and A (x-0-2-2-2-0). About the minor cadence.

In D minor, i–VII–VI–V on guitar is Dm (x-x-0-2-3-1), C (x-3-2-0-1-0), B♭ (x-1-3-3-3-1) and A (x-0-2-2-2-0). About the Andalusian cadence.

Dm on piano and ukulele

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

Next to try on guitar

Other minor chords

Dm on guitar: questions

What notes are in Dm on guitar?

D, F and A. In the x-x-0-2-3-1 shape the strings play D (D string, open), A (G string), D (B string) and F (high E string), so D is doubled.

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

x-x-0-2-3-1, the first shape on this page. No barre: some strings ring open.

Is Dm a barre chord on guitar?

Not usually: x-x-0-2-3-1 needs no barre. The barre versions come later, higher on the neck.

Which string does Dm start on?

In the x-x-0-2-3-1 shape the lowest string you play is the D string, open, which is D, the root. Skip the low E and A strings.

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