D Ukulele Chord
Looking for the D chord on your ukulele? It is a three-finger shape, a little fiddly at first but it settles fast. Your fingers go on the g, C and E strings. The steps below show exactly where each one sits.
A three-finger shape. Here is how to play D, step by step.
- Notes: D, Gb and A
- Frets: 2 2 2 0
- Tuning: g C E A
D ukulele chord details
- Type
- Major triad
- Also known as
- D major
- Formula
- 1 3 5
- Intervals
- D (root), Gb (major 3rd), A (perfect 5th)
- Notes
- D, Gb and A
- Frets
- 2 2 2 0
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Tuning
- Standard (g C E A)
How to play the D chord
Here is the D chord step by step:
- Put your index finger on the 2nd fret of the g string.
- Put your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the C string.
- Put your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the E string.
- Leave the A string open.
- Strum all four strings.
Take it slowly the first few times and it will start to feel natural. New to these grids? Have a look at how to read a ukulele chord diagram.
What notes are in the D chord?
The D chord is built from three notes: D, Gb and A (the root, major 3rd and perfect 5th). On the ukulele the A is doubled, so you get a nice full sound. Major chords are the bright, happy ones, which is why so many singalong songs are built on them. Curious which chords sit together in a song? See which chords share a key.
Ukulele songs that use the D chord
- Israel Kamakawiwo'oleSomewhere Over The Rainbow / What A Wonderful World
- Cristin MiliotiLa Vie En Rose
- Plain White T'sHey There Delilah
- Billie Eilishidontwannabeyouanymore
- PassengerLet Her Go
- Ed SheeranThinking Out Loud
- Twenty One PilotsWe Don’t Believe What’s On TV
- HozierTake Me To Church
- Ed SheeranThe A Team
- The BeatlesHere Comes The Sun
Want to go further?
Once D feels comfortable, its close relatives are worth exploring: try D7, Dmaj7, Dm and Dsus4. D pairs most often with G, A and Bm, so the few basic chords next to it go a long way. When that feels good, work on switching between chords faster. When you are ready, try some easy ukulele songs.