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Lesson series

D-shape Movable Chords

Movable chords based on the CAGED D shape, the only shape with a fourth-string root.

About the D shape

The D shape is the movable version of the familiar open D chord. It's the only CAGED shape whose lowest root is on the fourth string, which gives it a distinctive character: thinner and less resonant than shapes with a root on the fifth or sixth strings, but sitting in a register the other shapes can't reach.

Because of that thinner sound, the D shape is usually not a chord to linger on. But it's often in exactly the right place for passing chords and transitions between other shapes.

Lessons

  1. D-shape Major Chord

    The movable major chord with a root on the fourth string.

  2. D-shape Minor Chord

    The refreshingly comfortable minor chord with a root on the fourth string.

  3. D7-shape Chord

    The movable dominant seventh with a root on the fourth string.

Series: D-shape Scales

Practice scales musically around D-shape chords, landing chord tones on downbeats.