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BEGINNER ELECTRIC GUITAR LESSON 23

HOW TO PLAY THE Dm CHORD

With its unique sound and technique, the Dm chord will certainly come in handy as you progress. In the video below, Justin Guitar goes through the proper fretting, compares it to D major so you can understand the theory behind it, and helps you find your comfort zone when playing it.

CHORDS USED IN THIS LESSON

D Minor Chord Chart

 

 


Playing the Dm Chord

Like every chord, there are many ways to play Dm. The first shape you should learn (and the one Justin shows you in the video), is in the first position. This form of Dm requires you to place your fingers on the first, second, and third frets, of the first, second, and third strings, while strumming the top four strings.

If you’ve already learned D Major, you may notice that the D minor chord form is very similar—the difference is the note on the high E string. The D Major chord includes an F#, which is on the second fret of the high E string. The D minor includes an F, which is a half-step down on the first fret of the high E string.

How to Play the Dm Chord on the First Fret

To play the D minor chord in the first position:

-Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the high E string. 

-Next place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the G String. 

-Last, position your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the B string. 

-With those three fingers pressed down, strum the top 4 strings of the guitar (D, G, B, E or 4,3,2,1). This form includes the open D string for a more powerful sound.

 

What Notes Make Up the Dm Chord?

The D minor chord is made up of three notes — D, F, A. In different forms of D minor, one or more of those notes may be doubled. Commonly, in the first position, the open D string is strummed, in addition to the D note on the 3rd fret of the B string.

 

Which Keys Have the Dm Chord in Them?

The Dm chords is in all of these keys:

C Major

Bb Major

F Major

A Minor

G Minor

D Minor

 

Popular Songs that Use the Dm Chord

There are way more songs that use Dm than we could possibly list. But here are a few very popular songs in which you’ll find the Dm chord:

The Beatles - Yesterday

Jack Johnson - Flake

Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky

Queen - Don’t Stop Me Now

 


NEXT LESSON

LESSON 24

how to read guitar tabs

Though not the same as traditional written music, tabs work particularly well for guitar. Learn all about guitar tabs in this video lesson.

WATCH LESSON


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