[Acoustic Guitar Chords] > How to Play the Dm Chord (Position, Variations, and Exercises)
The Dm chord, also known as the D minor chord, is one of the most popular guitar chords for beginners to tackle when you’re just starting on your guitar-playing journey.
The reason? Well, to start with, it’s pretty simple. It consists of just three notes: D, F, and A.
On top of that, it has a kind of melancholy feel that many musicians use to add a certain weight to their songs – think Tom Waits or Leonard Cohen.
So if you’re the type of musician who likes slower, slightly more somber music, then this chord’s for you! If you’re not, well, you should learn it anyway, as it’ll add great variety to your chord library and is especially useful for various chord progressions.
To help you out I’ve put together this guide on exactly how to play the Dm chord. I’ll show you exactly what the Dm chord is, how to position your fingers to play it correctly, a few variations you can try, and some exercises you can practice to master it.
Ready? Let’s go!
What Is the D Minor Chord?
The Dm chord is a handy one to have in your arsenal of guitar chords. Even if you don’t know it yet, you’ve likely heard it in a ton of popular songs.
Before we dive in, I recommend checking out this article on chord diagrams so that you’re familiar with reading the diagrams I’ve included in this guide.
You’ve probably already heard of, or even learned, the D chord. But don’t get confused – the D chord and the Dm chord are not the same.
In the diagram below, you’ll see that although they’re similar, they have a few differences.
Both chords require the use of three fingers, but when playing the D minor chord, the finger on the first string moves down by a half step.
How to Play the D Minor Chord on Acoustic Guitar
Okay so we have the diagram and we have the notes, but how do you actually play the Dm chord?
Let me break it down for you. Feel free to use the above diagram as a guide while you work through these steps.
How to position your fingers for the D minor chord:
- Index on the 1st fret of the high E string
- Middle finger on the 2nd fret of the G string
- Ring finger on the 3rd fret of the B string
- Once your three fingers are in the right position, strum from the D string down – but don’t play the A or the low E strings
If this doesn’t feel good just yet, don’t worry. I’ve plotted out an easier variation below that you can try if you’re struggling.
But before we get to variations, let’s talk about finger positioning.
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D Minor Chord Guitar Finger Position Tips
Finger positioning for chords can be a bit subjective.
I’ve seen many people play the above D minor chord with their pinky finger instead of their ring finger. This requires less of a stretch but a really strong pinky finger!
Not everyone will be able to do this off the bat, so if you’re finding it a bit tricky, stick with the ring finger.
As with all chords:
- Ensure that your finger positioning is as precise as possible so that you get the best and clearest possible sound.
- Don’t forget to arch your fingers – this will help you avoid pressing down on other strings accidentally.
- Make sure that you’re pressing down with the tips of your fingers, not the pads.
If you’re not pressing down hard enough or using the pads of your fingers, you might get some annoying fret buzz.
Dm Chord Variations
There are a couple of popular variations of the Dm chord that I think are useful for all guitar players to know about. The first two are pretty easy, and the last I threw in just for a little bit of perspective and context.
Dm Chord (Easy Variation)
The first variation is an easier version of the Dm chord. It’s a simplified version of the Dm chord and it’s an open position chord, meaning, in this case, that there are three open strings that remain unfretted.
To perform this variation, position your fingers in the following way:
- Open D string
- Middle finger on the 2nd fret of the G string
- Ring finger on the 3rd of the B string
Just like the original Dm chord, don’t play the A string or low E string, but also omit or mute the high E string.
Dsus2 (Suspended) Open Position Chord
The second variation only requires two fingers to execute correctly. Being a suspended chord, it will result in a slightly different sound from the original Dm chord. This means it’s not major or minor but rather suspended due to the open E string.
To perform this variation, position your fingers in the following way:
- Index finger on the second fret of the G string
- Ring finger on the third fret of the B string
- Open high E string and D string open
Just like the original Dm chord, don’t play the A string or low E string.
While this variation of the Dm chord is often considered the easiest, it still has a pretty great sound, even if it’s not as full as the original or the Dm open position chord.
Dm Chord (Barre Variation)
The more advanced version of the Dm chord is, of course, a barre chord.
Since barre chords require you to hold multiple strings across a single fret, they can often be quite difficult for beginners to pull off. But keep practicing, as they’re really useful in the long run!
The barre variation of the Dm chord uses the open Am shape with the index finger barred across the 5th fret.
Here’s how your fingers should be positioned:
- Use your index finger to bar the A, D, G, B, and high E strings on the 5th fret
- Middle finger on the sixth fret of the B string
- Ring finger on the seventh fret of the D string
- Pinky finger on the seventh fret of the G string
- Mute the low E string
Strum downwards and you’ve got a full, rich, and vibrant-sounding variation of the Dm chord.
D Minor Chord Exercises for a Smooth Transition
Now that you’ve got the finger positioning down pat and know how to play a number of variations, it’s time to practice the Dm chord until it becomes second nature.
Here’s an easy but very effective exercise to help you achieve that:
- Using your fretting hand, form a Dm chord
- Strum down four times
- Release the chord
- Strum down four more times on the open the strings
- Rinse and repeat
Although very simple, this exercise just gets your hand used to finding its way along the fretboard to where it needs to form a solid Dm chord.
With enough practice, you’ll be able to do this by touch, and won’t even have to look at the fretboard.
Another way to practice getting into position more smoothly is to switch back and forth between Dm and the other chords you’ve already mastered.
If you’re looking to get better at chord changes – without those awkward pauses while you move your fingers – check out my chord transition tips!
Life After the Dm Chord
Now that you’ve nailed the Dm chord, you can try these other basic minor chords.
What’s next?How about theD5 chordandD7 chord?
A logical next step would be to master a few more chords to play and practice a whole variety of different songs and genres.You could explore a few alternative tunings, such as open D tuning, drop D tuning, and open C tuning.
If you’re looking to do that and so much more, then I highly recommend you check out my guitar workshop at Tony’s Acoustic Challenge.
It’s this kind of unusual but really effective course that will get you excited to practice every day. It helps you avoid common mistakes in your guitar journey, and offers tons of helpful practice tips for guitar players at any level.
If you’re looking to build a consistent, life-long guitar practice, watch this FREE guitar class, where I show you the three secrets to faster guitar learning in 10 minutes a day.
