D Minor Guitar Chord (Dm)
Dm is the open minor chord with the darkest reputation. Spinal Tap called D minor the saddest of all keys and nobody argued. xx0231, three fingers on the top three strings.
Dm eats cold pizza alone.
Dm chord shapes in standard tuning
How to play it
Place your index finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 2, and your ring finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 3. Let the D (4th) string ring open. Keep the low E (6th) and A (5th) strings out of the strum. Start your downstroke from the D (4th) string.
Notes in this chord
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | D |
| ♭3 | minor third | F |
| 5 | perfect fifth | A |
Keep exploring
Other tunings
Open the interactive chord charts to see Dm in open G, drop D, DADGAD, and more tunings.
More D chords
Nearby minor chords
Dm FAQ
What notes are in Dm?
Dm contains D, F, and A. That's the root (D), the minor third, and the perfect fifth.
Is Dm a barre chord?
Not necessarily. The easiest Dm shape (x-x-0-2-3-1) needs no barre. It uses 3 fingers plus open strings. Barre versions exist too, starting at fret 5, and are handy when you want to move the same grip to other keys.
What is the easiest way to play Dm on guitar?
Start with the open position shape x-x-0-2-3-1. Place your index finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 2, and your ring finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 3. Let the D (4th) string ring open. Keep the low E (6th) and A (5th) strings out of the strum. Start your downstroke from the D (4th) string.