D minor chord on ukulele (Dm)

Dm is D, F and A. The easiest shape is 2-2-1-0. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

2-2-1-0 · open · easy

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

How to play Dm on ukulele

Shape 1, 2-2-1-0, reading from the G string on the left:

F: index finger, 1st fret of the E string.
A: middle finger, 2nd fret of the G string.
D: ring finger, 2nd fret of the C string.
Leave the A string open: A.

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.
On ukulele you strum all four strings. The top G string is tuned higher than the C, which is why ukulele chords sound bright and close.

Other ways to play Dm

7-5-5-5: movable shape at the 5th fret, medium. A different set of strings gives a different color of the same chord.
10-9-10-8: movable shape at the 8th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

Capo shortcuts for Dm

No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open Cm shape (0-3-3-3), capo on the 3rd fret and play the open Bm shape (4-2-2-2) or capo on the 5th fret and play the open Am shape (2-0-0-0). The chord sounds as Dm because the capo raises every string by 2 half steps.

Changing from Dm to the chords around it

Songs rarely hold Dm for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

G (V in C major): Dm (2-2-1-0) to G (0-2-3-2): your index finger lands on the C string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the A string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the E string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. The two chords share D, which is why the change sounds smooth. G on ukulele
F (IV in C major): Dm (2-2-1-0) to F (2-0-1-0): your index and middle fingers stay put. Very little moves, so this change comes fast. Listen for F and A, which stay put while the rest moves. F on ukulele
C (I in C major): Dm (2-2-1-0) to C (0-0-0-3): move the index finger to the A string, 3rd fret. C on ukulele

Dm has the gentle, slightly melancholy sound of a minor chord. All 3 notes of Dm fit on the ukulele's four strings, with one of them doubled. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

A short Dm drill

Arpeggiate 2-2-1-0 from the lowest string: A, D, F, A. Then strum it and listen for the same 4 notes together. Finish by moving between 2-2-1-0 and 7-5-5-5 to learn two positions of the same chord.

Where Dm shows up

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

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

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

Dm on guitar and piano

Dm on guitar and piano uses the same 3 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Next to try on ukulele

Other minor chords

Dm on ukulele: questions

What notes are in Dm on ukulele?

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

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

2-2-1-0, the shape at the top of this page. Open strings do part of the work, so no barre.

Is Dm a barre chord on ukulele?

Not the usual shape: 2-2-1-0 needs no barre.

Which string does Dm start on?

In the 2-2-1-0 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 2nd fret, which is A, the perfect fifth.

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