D chord (D major) on bass
D (D major) has three notes: D, F sharp and A. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. In major keys, D is the I chord in D major, the IV in A major and the V in G major.
How to play D on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | D |
|---|---|
| Also written | Dmaj, DM |
| Notes | D F# A |
| Formula | 1 3 5 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Major chord |
D across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 2 F# (3), fret 5 A (5), fret 10 D (1), fret 14 F# (3), fret 17 A (5), fret 22 D (1).
- A string: fret 0 A (5), fret 5 D (1), fret 9 F# (3), fret 12 A (5), fret 17 D (1), fret 21 F# (3), fret 24 A (5).
- D string: fret 0 D (1), fret 4 F# (3), fret 7 A (5), fret 12 D (1), fret 16 F# (3), fret 19 A (5), fret 24 D (1).
- G string: fret 2 A (5), fret 7 D (1), fret 11 F# (3), fret 14 A (5), fret 19 D (1), fret 23 F# (3).
Swipe the chart sideways to see all of it.
Questions
What notes are in the D chord?
D (D major) has three notes: D, F sharp and A. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. D is the root, F# is the major third and A is the perfect fifth.
How do you play D on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 5th: 1 5, root on the E string, fret 10. Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
What key is D in?
In major keys, D is the I chord in D major, the IV in A major and the V in G major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between D and Dm?
D has a major 3rd, F#. Dm lowers it a half step to F, which is what makes it sound minor. The root and 5th stay the same.