D major chord on ukulele (D)

D is D, F♯ and A. The easiest shape is 2-2-2-0. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

2-2-2-0 · open · easy

Notes: D · F♯ · A
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5
First shape: 2-2-2-0

How to play D on ukulele

Shape 1, 2-2-2-0, reading from the G string on the left:

A: index finger, 2nd fret of the G string.
D: middle finger, 2nd fret of the C string.
F♯: ring finger, 2nd fret of the E string.
Leave the A string open: A.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.
Strum with the pad of your index finger or thumb, all four strings, across the spot where the neck meets the body.

Other ways to play D

7-6-5-5: movable shape at the 5th fret, medium. A different set of strings gives a different color of the same chord.
11-9-10-9: movable shape at the 9th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

D the capo way

With a capo you can skip the harder shapes: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open C shape (0-0-0-3), capo on the 4th fret and play the open B♭ shape (3-2-1-1), capo on the 5th fret and play the open A shape (2-1-0-0) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open G shape (0-2-3-2). Everything above the capo is fingered exactly like the open chord.

Moving between D and its neighbours

The chords D usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

G (IV in D major): D (2-2-2-0) to G (0-2-3-2): the index finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the E string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. The two chords share D, which is why the change sounds smooth. G on ukulele
A (V in D major): D (2-2-2-0) to A (2-1-0-0): move the index finger to the C string, 1st fret, the middle finger slides across to the G string at the same fret. Shared note: A. A on ukulele
Bm (vi in D major): D (2-2-2-0) to Bm (4-2-2-2): the index finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, the middle finger slides across to the E string at the same fret, the ring finger slides across to the A string at the same fret, the pinky finger comes down on the G string, 4th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for D and F♯, which stay put while the rest moves. Bm on ukulele

A major chord sounds finished and open. All 3 notes of D fit on the ukulele's four strings, with one of them doubled. On ukulele you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Getting D under your fingers

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: A, D, F♯, A. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Then switch to 7-6-5-5 and back four times without looking at your hand.

D in context

In D major, I–V–vi–IV on ukulele is D (2-2-2-0), A (2-1-0-0), Bm (4-2-2-2) and G (0-2-3-2). About the pop progression.

In D major, I–IV–V on ukulele is D (2-2-2-0), G (0-2-3-2) and A (2-1-0-0). About the three-chord progression.

In D major, I–vi–IV–V on ukulele is D (2-2-2-0), Bm (4-2-2-2), G (0-2-3-2) and A (2-1-0-0). About the 50s progression.

D on guitar and piano

Switching instruments? Try D on piano or D on guitar, or compare them on the D chord page.

Close to D

Other major chords

D on ukulele: questions

What notes are in D on ukulele?

D, F♯ and A. In the 2-2-2-0 shape the strings play A (G string), D (C string), F♯ (E string) and A (A string, open), so A is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play D on ukulele?

2-2-2-0, the first shape on this page. It uses open strings, so there is no barre to press.

Is D a barre chord on ukulele?

Not the usual shape: 2-2-2-0 needs no barre.

Which string does D start on?

In the 2-2-2-0 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 2nd fret, which is A, the perfect fifth.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes D, F♯ and A and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.