Position 1 / 4

This chord has 4 voicings across the fretboard. Use the arrows to see each shape and fingering — and tap any dot on the diagram to hear that note.

Beginner

D Minor Guitar Chord

Often called the saddest of all keys. D Minor's open voicing has a haunting, melancholic quality beloved in classical and rock.

Also known as

  • Dm
  • D-
  • D m
  • Dmin
  • D min
  • Dminor
  • D minor

How to Play This Chord

Position your fingers on the fretboard as shown in the diagram. The vertical lines represent the strings, from low E (left) to high E (right), and the horizontal lines are the frets. Numbers inside the dots indicate which finger to use: 1 (index), 2 (middle), 3 (ring), 4 (pinky). An X means don't play that string; an O means play it open. A bar spanning multiple strings means one finger presses across all of them at once — this is known as a barre chord.

Tips & Tricks

Open Dm is another early chord, but the high E string at the 1st fret can be a pain point — it often buzzes if your index finger isn't placed right behind the fret. Apply firm, focused pressure and keep your finger arched so it doesn't interfere with the open D string.

There are many ways to play this chord. Try these:

eBGDAE 0 2 3 1 0 2 3 1
eBGDAE 1 3 2 0 1 3 2 0
eBGDAE 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3
eBGDAE 0 1 3 1 2 1 3 1

See how D Minor works with other chords — Progression Generator