BC-123 • The Dmin Chord

[Macabre]

... Time to slow the practice to clean it up maybe?

This was my approach and it really helps !

But as you can see, I am struggling with the Dmin as well!

Hi AcousticLounge, the numbers along the top - are they the days or the weeks? Pretty impressive progress, I have been playing the guitar for nearly 2 months (not every day I'll warrant) and am only around the 40s for the Stage 1 changes.
Any involving the Dm are a nightmare for me, I'm in the very low 20s! Probably less than that in reality as I've included the ones that don't sound 100% as it would be, like 0 otherwise!

[AcousticLounge]

Hi AcousticLounge, the numbers along the top - are they the days or the weeks?

Hey Macabre, I tested myself every 2 - 4 days. I include those that do not sound super extreme crispy as well (but as soon as if it is not that good, I do not count).

[bradt]

Hey guys. What helped in getting these changes down is to do them very slowly. Look at your hand in one chord and visualize the change, then make it slowly. You start to notice patterns forming in the changes. Once you recognize these, the changes get easier. At least they did for me.

Am-Dm is a good example. If you watch closely you start to see that they're mostly the same shape. All you are doing is moving it up one string, and spreading the third finger out one fret. First and second finger stay largely the same.

[lurch]

I've no idea what happened, I was struggling to get all the Dmin fingers down together. Not really picked up the guitar since Friday bar strumming along to a couple of EAD tunes and fiddling with my Ukew, but today the Dmin is coming along nicely, the fingers are all arriving in the same place together, Am to Dm is above 50bpm now, couldn't quite hit 60. I reckon it'll drop in like that for you AcousticLounge.

Still occasionally, on any 1 minute chord change practice stop in the middle as I've completely forgotten what I'm doing and what's next! Can't even think of the chord name when that happens, let alone the position!

Tried Dmin to a few other chords, they seem OK in terms of transition, not done them to a 1 minute schedule properly yet, but it's not bad and I have good confidence I can get straight in at 45-50bpm. The only weird one is G-Dmin. Bearing in mind I first learned the G years ago with the 3rd fret on strings 1 and 2, rather than just on string 1, and anchoring the finger seems to go from curl to straight, and it's like a pop, ever seen those "slap" wristbands? Like that. Sure a little work-out will smoothen things up a bit.

Only thing that's annoying me about any chord change is where you strum fewer strings, e.g. E-A or E-d or even A-D (maj or min) is muting the unwanted strings to keep the chord with the fewer strings cleaner. Main thing at this stage I guess, is the notes needed are clean which they are most of the time.

Interestingly, I tried the 4/4 strumming to "make" the chord changes keep up, it works, and I can do almost any chord change pretty slick doing that, well most of the time! Doesn't help for trying to play Desire by U2. I decided to leave that song along for now

As a side note, I'm being given a nylon strung classical acoustic soon, el cheapo kind of thing, but I figured it's be nice to have it about, and playing on a variety of different guitars is never a bad thing right?

Thanks all, this forum is brilliant for support and advice. I think half the battle is knowing and being reminded you're not alone when it comes to a niggle or a struggle with this, that or the other.

[oreilly10]

Man, I hated this chord when it first came across... but I weathered the storm and have it >60 changes with  all Stage 1 and 2 chords.  Stage 3 is a different story, but that one is on C and G.

[AcousticLounge]

Man, I hated this chord when it first came across... but I weathered the storm and have it >60 changes with  all Stage 1 and 2 chords.  Stage 3 is a different story, but that one is on C and G.

Congratulations, I'm still working on it :-(.

[AndyJSO]

Hating this chord. Have done most of the intermediate method course now but keep making a balls up of this one. Constantly miss it. Playing all my barre chords and missing this every time 

It's so simple but my stupid fingers keep missing it.

Finger two is always on the money, one tends to hit between b and e, and three tends to hit g. One minute changes are not working 

Any tips on this?

[Dr Winterbourne]

Andy, slow down and make the movements perfectly. However slowly that is for you.

Next, add in a metronome, real slow, like 40.

Once you can do it perfectly slowly, to the metronome, it becomes easy to increase the speed by upping the bpm.

Give that a try, maybe,

[TheCasual]

I found Dmin the hardest chord other Barre F on the BC

[3shirts]

This thread has been quite a relief for me.  I came here because I have a bit of trouble with Dmin (compared to other chords and changes) so it's nice to know other people have trouble with it too.
I've been focussing on playing it and I have changed my practice to include 2x one minute changes where Dm is concerned.

It is helping and I have A-Dm and Am-Dm up to around 30 now.  It's still lagging behind my other changes but I feel like it's 'clicked' now and the way my fingers find the position feels much less forced.  Hopefully, a few more days on it and I should be ready to step up to stage 3.

[stitch101]

If the Dm is the only thing stopping you from moving up to stage 3 move up and keep practicing the Dm.
You'll find the more chords your put into your practice routine the better.
There is two reasons for this

1 if you play the same chord over and over you get grooves in your fingers that mute the strings. Changing
the chords around keep the groove to a minimum.
2 Your brain gets bored and stops learning after spending to much time on the same chord. Changing it
up keeps your brain interested.

[truxguy]

I`m glad I`m not the only one struggling with this chord. Are there any stretches to do that will help my #3 & #2 fingers get more separation? I can form the chord and it sounds clean through the amp but I don`t have the seperation. After reading the posts in here, one thing I need to do is change my practicing regiment and start practicing patience also. Thanks everyone for your posts and advice it`s very helpful.

[Newand(hopefully)willing]

You might want to check out the video on the basic finger workout from stage 3 and start on that already. You'll definitely be able to stretch farther with confidence after a few weeks of doing that.

[TheCasual]

Of all the chords in the BC other then F barre chord Dmin was the hardest.

[jimbouk]

Hi All
Just started learning Acoustic Guitar at the age of 48, no musical knowledge at all so its going to be a steep learning curve for me.
i am currently working through the  course and have reached my first real challenge ''The Dmin ''chord.

Impossible at first but after reading this forum i am finding the 3-2-1 finger method seems to be helping me quite a lot.

Currently hitting around the 28 mark (14 full changes ) between Amin and Dmin , so i will keep plugging away until i manage the magic 60.

Thanks again for all the great advice

Jim

[ace74]

Just beginning this lesson. I find putting my fingers down in 3, 2, 1 order is easier; alternatively, 1, 3, 2.
Also, anchoring 1 & continually stretching 2 & 3 helps that 3rd finger to " venture out" a little further.
Any probs with those recommendations J?

Hello out there,
I must say that I've made exactly the same experience with Dminor as Estel.
Placing the fingers in 123 order is possible but stretchy
Placing the fingers in 321 order is quite easy.

Unfortunately nobody answered to Estel these days, but I have the same doubt about this.
Is there any reason not to grab Dm in that way (bad habbit and so on)

Thanks a lot,
Alan

[shadowscott007]

Long term you will end up putting your fingers down at about the same time.  I cannot see any irreparable damage with 3 2 1...

Shadow

[FPS]

Finger order is an individual thing. What ever floats your boat. And as shadow said, you will learn air changes eventually. So I can't see any harm done till then.

[ace74]

Hello,
Thanks a lot for your replies.
Before I can grab the chords at once I need a lot more practice.
Meanwhile I am proud for every progress I can notice.

Greetings
Alan

[Tazz3]

I started the DM the other night iam able to do it I go to DM to am and back, are there any easy songs that use dm

[Drubbing]

I started the DM the other night iam able to do it I go to DM to am and back, are there any easy songs that use dm

Have you bought Justins BC songbook? Chords taught lead into using them in songs. Can't be guaranteed they're songs you know or like though.

[SiegeFrog]

I started the DM the other night iam able to do it I go to DM to am and back, are there any easy songs that use dm

Some of the Stage 2 songs contain Dm. If you don't have the songbook take a look at some of Justin's song lessons from that stage. A Girl Like You, Natural Mystic, St. James Infirmary Blues, All Your Love.

[Nick77]

I really hate this chord, it is actually getting me depressed! I have been working on Girl Like You and whilst I am getting better I do at times wonder if I will ever get there. Aside from the stretch which everyone seems to struggle with at the beginning with the 3rd finger, the main problem I seem to have with this chord is my first finger rarely rings true on the thinnest string. It also hurts a lot and I have to press down very hard to get it to ring true which is pretty painful. I have been playing for just under 2 months every day (with perhaps 2 or 3 days skipped) so my fingers should be used to it by now? I have a Taylor 414ce which I bought when I started and I am convinced the action is a little high for a beginner but my guitar teacher says the action is low and it's great. I went to Australia for Xmas and bought a cheap steel string guitar whilst there just to keep up the practice and it was so much easier to play the chords on that as I hardly had to press down at all. My Taylor, particularly the two thinnest strings, is much harder and more painful to play on. Is this normal for a Taylor as from everything I read they are known for playability with low action etc etc. I'm a beginner so am just cracking on but the fact that it hurts more than the cheaper guitar I bought down under does make me think I might be onto something? Anyone have any experience on this? The strings are what it came with and Elixir HD Light Nanoweb. Thank you!

[stitch101]

There could be a few things going on to make your cheap guitar play better than your Taylor.

1 It could have the nut slots cut deeper than the Taylor making it easier to fret the strings close to
the nut.

2 It could have extra light strings and your Taylor has Lights

3 It has a short scale neck like a Gibson 24.75. Your Taylor has a 25.5 in scale.

It could be that your Taylor need a set-up. Ask the tech to check the nut. If you can take it to a Taylor
authorized dealer the set up might be free.

As for the Dm chord try different hand positions the get the right curl on you fingers so your not muting
the strings.

[Nick77]

Thanks Stitch will check it out. Appreciate the advice.