BC-111 • The D Chord

[justinguitar]

Lesson Link: http://justinguitar.com/en/BC-111-D-chord.php

Questions...

[xXPjs girlXx]

Lesson Link: http://justinguitar.com/en/BC-111-D-chord.php

Questions...

justin, i play electric guitar and ive just started out and i canot seem to get chord 3 to sound right when i play D no matter where i put my finger near the fret or not it doesnt sound right. what should i do?

[justinguitar]

what do you mean by chord 3 - do you mean the 3rd finger?

I think you'll probably just have to practice more...

[3amNut]

hi Justin,
When i play the chord D, I found my third finger always touch the E string. and my fingers are  paining now..... what should i do ? keep going or to have a rest?
thx.

[licksnkicks]

This D chord is a tricky little devil.  I finally after weeks of practice can get each string to ring clear and the e string is not muted.  I have got the feeling of exactly what position my fingers should be in and exactly how curled they should be.  Works everytime.  See, just little accomplishments like that inspire me to keep on keepin' on! Ya baby I got the D chord and it sounds great!  Now I just have to get that damned F chord to sound the same.  The baby F chord that Justin refers to!!  I'm not quite ready for the barred F chord so I will stick with the baby one.  Good enuff for now.

Licksnkicks

[bobster7]

You need to make your fingers as rounded as possible and just use the tips. Keep your left hand very relaxed concentrate on accurate finger placement close to the frets, keep going you can do it! It may take you a week to play a D without muting or buzzing but you will get it 

[licksnkicks]

You need to make your fingers as rounded as possible and just use the tips. Keep your left hand very relaxed concentrate on accurate finger placement close to the frets, keep going you can do it! It may take you a week to play a D without muting or buzzing but you will get it 

My thoughts exactly!

Licksnkicks

[bobster7]

Hey licksnkicks hows your f barre chord going?

If your are stuggling try the A barre chord instead, same shape but less stretching involved. If this is still to hard capo the 4th fret and now try again, the capo will make it easier to press the strings down. once you have it move the capo down to the third fret, then second etc. once he capo is on the first fret and you can hold an e shape barre chord it will not be long before you have sufficient dexterity and strength to remove that capo and blast that F chord. It worked for me

good luck         

[Rot1nPieces]

Hey Justin!  Thanks for the site!

My problem isn't really with this chord, it is switching to it while placing my fingers on the 3 strings at the same time.  How do I fix this?  For everyone that says "Practice!", screw you.  I want a real answer, so if you don't know, just don't reply.  Please don't make this beginner give up on guitar.  What do I do in this "practice" that will fix this problem?  Thank you all!

[PJMCM]

Hey Justin!  Thanks for the site!

My problem isn't really with this chord, it is switching to it while placing my fingers on the 3 strings at the same time.  How do I fix this?  For everyone that says "Practice!", screw you. I want a real answer, so if you don't know, just don't reply.  Please don't make this beginner give up on guitar.  What do I do in this "practice" that will fix this problem?  Thank you all!

Well isn't that nice!!

Unfortunately that is exactly the answer you're looking for - practice. If you're not prepared to put in the practice time, then you're wasting your time even trying to play guitar.

Maybe if you're a bit nicer someone might actually tell you WHAT to practice and where to look for guidance. "Screw you" isn't exactly the kind of statement that'll have people rushing to help you!

P

[licksnkicks]

Hey licksnkicks hows your f barre chord going?

If your are stuggling try the A barre chord instead, same shape but less stretching involved. If this is still to hard capo the 4th fret and now try again, the capo will make it easier to press the strings down. once you have it move the capo down to the third fret, then second etc. once he capo is on the first fret and you can hold an e shape barre chord it will not be long before you have sufficient dexterity and strength to remove that capo and blast that F chord. It worked for me

good luck         

Thanks for the advice.  I don't have a capo.  I really don't want to get one either.  I would just rather do it with my fingers.  Your way definitely makes sense though.  food for thought!

Licksnkicks

[gareth51]

Hey Justin!  Thanks for the site!

My problem isn't really with this chord, it is switching to it while placing my fingers on the 3 strings at the same time.  How do I fix this?  For everyone that says "Practice!", screw you.  I want a real answer, so if you don't know, just don't reply.  Please don't make this beginner give up on guitar.  What do I do in this "practice" that will fix this problem?  Thank you all!

It depends on which chord you are changing from, but I find it helps if you think of one finger as an anchor point for the chord, get that placed correctly then place the other fingers.

If you are going from the A chord using the fingering Justin suggests (2nd finger on 4th string, 1st finger on 3rd string, 3rd finger on 2nd string), the change should be easy.  Your first finger is already in the correct place for the D chord.  So lift up your 2nd and 3rd fingers (but not too high!), slide your 1st finger nearer to the fret, then place down your 2nd finger then 3rd finger for the D chord.  With practice, this will become seamless.

If you are moving from E to D, your 1st finger is already on the right string (3rd string) so all you need to do is slide it up one fret, then place your second and third fingers.  I hope that helps.

[Rot1nPieces]

Hey Justin!  Thanks for the site!

My problem isn't really with this chord, it is switching to it while placing my fingers on the 3 strings at the same time.  How do I fix this?  For everyone that says "Practice!", screw you.  I want a real answer, so if you don't know, just don't reply.  Please don't make this beginner give up on guitar.  What do I do in this "practice" that will fix this problem?  Thank you all!

It depends on which chord you are changing from, but I find it helps if you think of one finger as an anchor point for the chord, get that placed correctly then place the other fingers.

If you are going from the A chord using the fingering Justin suggests (2nd finger on 4th string, 1st finger on 3rd string, 3rd finger on 2nd string), the change should be easy.  Your first finger is already in the correct place for the D chord.  So lift up your 2nd and 3rd fingers (but not too high!), slide your 1st finger nearer to the fret, then place down your 2nd finger then 3rd finger for the D chord.  With practice, this will become seamless.

If you are moving from E to D, your 1st finger is already on the right string (3rd string) so all you need to do is slide it up one fret, then place your second and third fingers.  I hope that helps.

Doesn't help at all.  My problem is what I said in my question; placing my fingers on the 3 strings at the same time.  I'll try to clear it up a little bit.  When I play my D Chord, I already have my 1 finger down but my other fingers (2 and 3) don't come down at the same time (or not together, or not simultaneously).

All the good guitarists I find that at least know what they are doing have each finger hit each string at the same time (or together/simultaneously).  They don't have one finger down, then another, then another (or not together or separately).  It usually happens at the same time (together/simultaneously).  If that still isn't making sense, would you like me to put down a YouTube video to clearify?

[PJMCM]

Hey Justin!  Thanks for the site!

My problem isn't really with this chord, it is switching to it while placing my fingers on the 3 strings at the same time.  How do I fix this?  For everyone that says "Practice!", screw you.  I want a real answer, so if you don't know, just don't reply.  Please don't make this beginner give up on guitar.  What do I do in this "practice" that will fix this problem?  Thank you all!

Doesn't help at all.  My problem is what I said in my question; placing my fingers on the 3 strings at the same time.  I'll try to clear it up a little bit.  When I play my D Chord, I already have my 1 finger down but my other fingers (2 and 3) don't come down at the same time (or not together, or not simultaneously).

All the good guitarists I find that at least know what they are doing have each finger hit each string at the same time (or together/simultaneously).  They don't have one finger down, then another, then another (or not together or separately).  It usually happens at the same time (together/simultaneously).  If that still isn't making sense, would you like me to put down a YouTube video to clearify?

The skill you need to develop is called "Air Changes" in Justin's Beginer Course, but that particualr topic won't be covered for a while yet. This is basically getting your fingers into the relevant chord shapes in 'mid-air' as you change from one chord to another.

There's no way to develop this other than to practice constantly. Even if you don't have a guitar (at work, school etc) practice moving your fingers between the various shapes that you know. Also look at "Justin's One Minute Chord Changes" routine - that should help too.

P

[gareth51]

Doesn't help at all.  My problem is what I said in my question; placing my fingers on the 3 strings at the same time.  I'll try to clear it up a little bit.  When I play my D Chord, I already have my 1 finger down but my other fingers (2 and 3) don't come down at the same time (or not together, or not simultaneously).

All the good guitarists I find that at least know what they are doing have each finger hit each string at the same time (or together/simultaneously).  They don't have one finger down, then another, then another (or not together or separately).  It usually happens at the same time (together/simultaneously).  If that still isn't making sense, would you like me to put down a YouTube video to clarify?

I understand your problem now.  Of course with time and practice your fingers will come down simultaneously, or near enough that no one else will notice.  The only thing I can suggest is practice your 1-minute chord changes and eventually you will be able to do it.  How long have you been playing guitar for?