just plain D

On the guitar, let's say a chord is the sound of two or more strings strummed or plucked at the same time. Placing fingers on strings at various positions on the fret board in fact, changes the length of those strings. When strummed or plucked, the sounds produced by those strings are now organized in a specific way. Let's learn one of those ways.


As before, use the middle finger of your fretting hand to hold the first string down at the second fret. And as before, use your ring finger to hold the second string down at the third fret.

Now add your index finger to the third string, second fret. When the strings are strummed or plucked while fingering this chord form, your guitar will sound the same organization of tones that was formally named D major a long, long time ago. But now that you've been introduced, no one will mind if you call this sound just plain D.


More commonly, guitarists (and players of other stringed instruments) use this name when referring to either the sound, or the chord form. And so will we, as in, "grab a D chord."


Also place the thumb of your strumming hand on the fourth string somewhere right around the sound hole. Brushing down, towards the floor, across those four strings is making the sound known as D major.


Beginning each strum with the thumb of your strumming hand on the fourth string, do it a bunch of times in a row. Use a stroke that starts from your elbow and is softened with a relaxed and supple wrist.


In music, many things are organized by fours, as in, four beats to the measure. In our case, four strums equals four beats. Count as you strum: One, two, three, four. Stop. Now play for two measures. 


Playing fast is never as musical as playing in control. A smooth, steady, flowing motion with your strumming hand produces a smooth, steady, flowing sound. Try it for four measures, counting out the rhythm as you go: ONE, two, three, four, TWO, two, three, four, THREE, two, three, four, FOUR, two, three, four.


Try it for eight measures. 


The good news is you now have enough information and skill to play the accompaniment to a dozen or so songs on your guitar. The bad news is most of them are a lot like, "Row, Row, Row Your Boat.