D minor (Dm)

The smallest of the open minor chords: four strings, a triangle shape. Together with A minor and E minor, it completes the family of open minor chords.

It’s played in open position, near the nut, and as a barre chord higher up the neck. It’s the home chord of the key of D minor; in major keys, you’ll find it in F major, C major and B♭ major.

Notes:: D, F, A.
Formula:: 1, ♭3, 5.
Difficulty:: Beginner.
Strings played:: 4 (from the D string).

Chord diagram

e|--1--|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--x--|
E|--x--|

Other positions

e|--5--|
B|--6--|
G|--7--|
D|--7--|
A|--5--|
E|--x--|

e|--10--|
B|--10--|
G|--10--|
D|--12--|
A|--12--|
E|--10--|

Common mistakes

High E buzzing? Your index, at the 1st fret, should press with the tip, right behind the fret, without touching the B string.

Muddy low end? Don’t strum the low E or A string. Aim for the D string to start.

Variations

Dm7: your index flattens into a mini-barre across the B and high E strings, and your ring finger lifts off.

e|--1--|
B|--1--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--x--|
E|--x--|

Heard in

D minor is the relative minor of F major. A minor, D minor, E: the most classic cadence in the key of A minor.

Often played with

The chords in its key, the ones you hear most often around D minor.

e|--3--|
B|--3--|
G|--3--|
D|--5--|
A|--5--|
E|--3--|

G minoriv

e|--0--|
B|--1--|
G|--2--|
D|--2--|
A|--0--|
E|--x--|

A minorv

e|--1--|
B|--3--|
G|--3--|
D|--3--|
A|--1--|
E|--x--|

B♭ major♭VI

e|--0--|
B|--1--|
G|--0--|
D|--2--|
A|--3--|
E|--x--|

C major♭VII