Guitar Theory - The D shape

In this exercise, we use 3 fingers on 3 strings to make the D chord shape.Show more

While we will be fretting the G-B-E strings, the D string will always be there, open, creating an Open D string root note for all of this chord shape in every hand position.

This D chord shape is moveable up and down the length of these 3 strings.

Practice this chord shape up and down the strings. It will require you to sightly adjust your fingers at every new hand position.

You will want to open and close your hand, and land precisely, where your fingers are positioned such that all 3 strings can be clearly heard. The strings are all fretted correctly enough, and the fingers are not accidentally touching somewhere.

Lift or open all 3 fingers OFF the strings, and then lower or close all 3 fingers together ON the strings.

Open-Close-Open-Close

Off-On-Off-On

Keep practicing making this chord shape on the fly, having it come together at the same time, instead of using one finger as an anchor point, and then placing your other fingers down one at a time. Music goes by too fast, so you’ll need to get faster at putting this chord shape together.

Once you master one chord shape, and being able to apply it, and remove it, smooth and quick, then we will move into changing between this D chord shape and some other chord shapes that commonly go along with it, such as the G shape and the C shape

This D shape is one of the 3 fundamental chord shapes for the 3 chord songs that use G-C-D cowboy chords