D5 chord (D power chord) on guitar

How to finger D5, which notes it contains and which chords it is played with. Tap the diagram to hear it, then play it below in a progression with other chords.

Loading the interactive fretboard…

About the D5 chord

D5 is D power chord. Notes: D – A. Formula: 1 – 5.

Difficulty: easy (power chord) (1 out of 3). Two or three strings and one shape you can slide along the neck: fine from the first weeks. The chord is common, especially in blues, rock and pop, so it is worth knowing after the basics.

How to place your fingers

  • Press: string 5 (A) — fret 5; string 4 (D) — fret 7; string 3 (G) — fret 7
  • Do not play (mute): string 6 (E); string 2 (B); string 1 (e)

This chord is played higher up the neck (around fret 5), not in open position.

Where it appears

D5 is found in these keys: D (I), A (IV), G (V).

Progressions with D5

Every progression starts on D5 and all its chords come from one key, so the changes sound natural. Play them in the block above; the Roman numerals show each chord's degree.

  • D5 – G5 – A5 – G5 (I5 – IV5 – V5 – IV5)
  • D5 – C5 – G5 – D5 (I5 – bVII5 – IV5 – I5)

Try it in practice

Practise chord changes

Other popular chords

Related reading