This has to do with the string tension on the 1st fret. One other thing to note about playing the D minor chord on guitar is that it can be harder to play on cheaper guitars or guitars that aren’t properly set up. But you want to avoid hitting the low E string. It’s not a big deal if you occasionally play the fifth string by accident because A is one of the notes in the Dm chord. With your right hand, play the top four strings only (D G B E). And finally, with your index finger, play the 1st fret of the high E string. Now, with your ring finger, play the 3rd fret on the B string. It’s important that you place the finger close to the fret because this will make the next note a lot easier to play because you won’t have to stretch your finger as much. Next, place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the G string, close to (but not on top of) the 2nd fret. To play the D minor chord, first make sure your thumb is behind the neck (as described in this lesson). (It’s also important to note that, according to Nigel Tufnel, D minor is the saddest of all keys and makes people weep instantly. (Don’t worry if you don’t understand what this means yet.) So this means that it’s similar to the D major chord but requires a change in fingering. As with all minor chords, it’s the same as the major version except that the 3rd note of the scale is lowered one fret. In terms of difficulty, it’s right in the middle of the pack-not as easy as E minor but nowhere near as hard as F major or B major. The D minor chord is one of those essential beginner chords you should learn early on in your guitar playing career.

All chords in d minor