D Chord

Open position and its movable form.

D.shtml | Updated: 02-Jul-2009 - 12:06

D Major Chord Fingering Options

 

D Major, Open Position

"C" Tuning (gCEA or GCEA)

Chord Fingering

As I say in all my chord books. "Fingerings are recommended but not mandatory."

There are several ways to finger this chord. Depending on the context of how the chord is being used one fingering might be better than another.

What finger is what?

Here are the common fingering notations I've come across. For chord fingering it is typically expressed using arbic numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and T for Thumb. For the plucking hand in fingerstyle the Spanish classical names and what is commonly used in English are shown.

  • T is your Thumb (i), not really a finger but a digit. In standard classical guitar notation, Spanish this is Pulgar (p)
  • 1 is your Index (i) finger. In standard classical guitar notation this is Indice (i)
  • 2 is your Middle (m) finger. In standard classical guitar notation this is Medio (m)
  • 3 is your Ring (r) finger. In standard classical guitar notation this is Anular (a)
  • 4 is your Pinky (p) finger. In standard classical guitar notation this is Mignolo (c, x or e)

Chord Fingering

  • 2 3 4

    Smaller set of fingers than 1 2 and 3 together

  • 2 3 3 - if you can raise the third finger barre off string one so it sounds open this fingering is possible. It all depends on the flexibility of ones finger joints.
  • 2 2 3 or 1 1 2 -

    if you can raise the barre off string one so it sounds open this fingering is possible. It all depends on the flexibility of ones finger joints.

  • 3 2 4
  • 2 1 3

    This gets a little tight on smaller ukes and larger hands

  • 1 1 1 -

    if you can raise the barre off string one so it sounds open this fingering is possible. Again this fingering depends on the flexibility of ones finger joints.

  • Thumb -

    although this is possible, especially on the smaller soprano and concert ukes it is not recommended.

It is recommended that you explore and develop alternate fingerings for your chords. Alternate fingerings free up other fingers for adding notes to chords or to grab melodies.

D Major, Movable Barre Form

"C" Tuning (gCEA or GCEA)

If the above voicings of the D chord give you trouble this alternate voicing and fingering might be better.

Chord Fingering

  • 1 1 1 4

    This is pretty much the only usable fingering.

The open position D chord and its movable form as well as most common open position chords are covered in my book: Ukulele Chords

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Ukulele Chords - “C” Tuning

Mini ukulele chord book of basic open position and movable form chords. Great for your uke case. “C” Tuning, high or low G

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