Tune to Open D
This guide uses D A D F# A D, from the sixth string to the first. From standard tuning, lower strings 6, 3, 2, and 1 as described on the Open D tuner. Recheck all six strings after the neck and bridge settle.
Open D major and minor shapes
| Chord | Frets, low to high | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| D major | 000000 | The fully open D major chord. |
| E major | 222222 | Full barre at fret 2. |
| F# major | 444444 | Full barre at fret 4. |
| G major | 555555 | Full barre at fret 5. |
| A major | 777777 | Full barre at fret 7. |
| E minor | 222122 | Lower the third-string note one fret from E major. |
| F# minor | 444344 | Move the same minor shape to fret 4. |
| G minor | 555455 | Move the same minor shape to fret 5. |
Why the barre shape works
The open strings contain D, F#, and A—the notes of D major. Fretting every string at the same fret preserves those intervals and transposes the entire chord. The sixth or fourth string identifies the root: fret 2 is E, fret 5 is G, and fret 7 is A.
Turn a major barre into minor
The major third is located on the third string. Lowering only that note by one fret changes the chord from major to minor. For E minor, barre fret 2 but play fret 1 on the third string, producing 222122.
Control drones and bass notes
Open D rewards selective picking. Hold a melody on the top strings while allowing open D and A strings to ring when they belong to the chord. Mute them when they clash. This creates more musical movement than strumming every string continuously.
Practice routine
- Strum open D and verify every note.
- Move full barres through E, G, and A major.
- Alternate E major at 222222 with E minor at 222122.
- Move the minor shape to F# minor and G minor.
- Finish with slow arpeggios and recheck the tuning.