Dm Chord
The Dm is a minor chord that sounds darker, more melancholic, and expressive. Minor chords add emotional depth and drama. The lowered third gives them their characteristic bittersweet quality, making them essential for blues, rock, and emotional ballads.
Open Position
Chord Diagrams
Open Position
No barre required
Barre Shape — Fret 5
Uses a barre chord technique
How to Play Dm
Follow these steps for the open position fingering:
| # | String | Instruction | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low E (6th string) | ✕Mute — do not play this string | – |
| 2 | A (5th string) | ✕Mute — do not play this string | – |
| 3 | D (4th string) | ○Open — play the open string | A |
| 4 | G (3rd string) | ●Fret 2 with your middle finger | D |
| 5 | B (2nd string) | ●Fret 3 with your ring finger | F |
| 6 | High E (1st string) | ●Fret 1 with your index finger | A |
○ = Open string (no fingers needed)
✕ = Muted string (don't play)
● = Press your finger down firmly just behind the fret
Notes in Dm
The Dm chord is built from 3 distinct notes, each serving a harmonic role:
Songs Using Dm
These songs from our play-along library feature the Dm chord:
Other D Chords
Explore other chord types built on the same root note:
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