D5 Chord on Guitar

1,008 guitar chords with several shapes each, finger numbers, difficulty and real sound, in any tuning.

D5 is a power chord chord made of 2 notes: D, A. It sounds strong and neutral, with no third to make it major or minor, and you hear it in rock, punk and metal, especially with distortion. It is the I chord of D major and turns up in 5 other keys.

The library above opens on D5 with 14 shapes up and down the neck, starting with hand-checked ones. Tap a shape to hear it, or play it one string at a time.

Notes in D5

NoteDegreeInterval from DSemitones
D1root0
A5perfect fifth7

Formula: 1 – 5. On guitar the 5th is often left out of the bigger shapes without changing the chord.

How to play D5

13
Open positionBeginnerxx023x
5fr134
Fret 5Beginnerx577xx
3fr12
Fret 3Beginnerxxxx35
10fr12
Fret 10Beginner(10)(12)xxxx
12fr12
Fret 12Beginnerxx(12)(14)xx
5fr21
Fret 5Easyxxx7x5

Open position (root on the 4th string), step by step

  1. 1st finger (index): 3rd string, 2nd fret (A, the fifth).
  2. 3rd finger (ring): 2nd string, 3rd fret (D, the root).
  3. Let the 4th string ring open (D).
  4. Strum from the 4th string, and keep the 6th string and 5th string and 1st string quiet (touch the muted string lightly with the finger next to it).

Tips

The open position shape is the one to learn first. Once it is easy, try the shape at the 5th fret (x577xx): the same chord, higher and brighter, handy when the chords before and after it sit up the neck.

Keys and progressions with D5

D5 belongs to 6 keys: I in D major, V in G major, IV in A major, VII in E minor, VI in F♯ minor, III in B minor. In D major, try I–V–vi–IV: D5 – A – Bm – G.

Common questions

What notes are in D5?

D, A: the root, fifth.

What is the easiest way to play D5?

Open position: xx023x (low string first), rated Beginner.

What is the difference between D5 and D?

D5 has the same notes where D has F♯. D5 sounds strong and neutral, with no third to make it major or minor; D sounds bright, settled and complete.

Is D5 a hard chord?

No. The easiest shape is rated Beginner and needs 2 fingers.

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