All chords › D › Suspended & Altered

D Suspended & Altered Chords

Chords that swap the third for a second or a fourth, and chords that bend the fifth or the ninth out of shape. Suspensions blur the major/minor question; altered chords sharpen the pull toward whatever comes next.

17 chord types · 205 playable voicings · frets 1–15 · 129 use an open string

129 of the 205 shapes below let at least one string ring open, which usually makes them easier to hold and fuller to hear than the barred equivalents. The rest are movable grips. In the keys you are most likely to meet them, these chords sit as the I of D, the IV of G, and the V of A.

Jump to: Dsus2 · Dsus4 · D7sus4 · Dmaj7sus4 · D7sus2 · Dmaj7sus2 · D6sus4 · D6sus2 · Dm7b5 · Dm7#5 · Ddim7 · D7b9 · D7#9 · D7b5 · Daug7 · Daug7b9 · Dm7b9

Dsus2

DEA
19 shapes · open & play
X
O
2
4
1
1
2
X
O
O
2
4
1
2
X
X
O
O
1
2
X
X
O
O
2
1
4
X
X
O
X
O
1
X
O
5
1
4
2
3
X
O
5
1
3
4
2
X
X
O
5
3
1
1
X
5
1
3
4
1
1
O
O
X
O
7
4
1
O
X
O
7
4
1
1
X
X
X
7
4
1
1
O
O
O
9
2
1
3
X
X
O
O
9
1
2
X
X
O
9
1
2
3
O
O
X
X
O
10
1
X
X
O
X
O
10
1
X
X
X
10
3
1
4
X
X
12
1
3
4
2

Dsus2 fits 10 of the twenty-four major and minor keys — a chord this open leaves most of the scale untouched. These are the 5 where it carries the weight, as the I, IV or V: I of D major, i of D minor, V of G major, IV of A major, iv of A minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Dsus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 5 2 2 3 0– 4 1 1 2 –
X 5 0 2 3 0– 4 – 1 2 –
X X 0 2 3 0– – – 1 2 –
X X 0 2 5 0– – – 1 4 –
X X 0 2 X 0– – – 1 – –
X 5 0 7 5 5– 1 – 4 2 3
X 5 7 7 5 0– 1 3 4 2 –
X X 0 7 5 5– – – 3 1 1
X 5 7 7 5 5– 1 3 4 1 1
10 0 0 7 X 04 – – 1 – –
10 0 7 7 X 04 – 1 1 – –
10 7 7 X X X4 1 1 – – –
10 0 0 9 10 02 – – 1 3 –
X X 0 9 10 0– – – 1 2 –
X X 0 9 10 10– – – 1 2 3
10 0 0 X X 01 – – – – –
X X 0 X 10 0– – – – 1 –
X X 12 X 10 12– – 3 – 1 4
X X 12 14 15 12– – 1 3 4 2

Dsus4

DGA
22 shapes · open & play
X
O
2
4
1
2
3
X
X
O
1
2
3
X
X
O
X
1
2
X
X
X
2
3
4
1
X
O
O
3
3
1
4
X
X
O
O
3
1
3
X
X
O
O
X
5
1
X
5
1
1
3
4
2
X
X
5
1
1
3
2
O
O
O
8
3
1
4
O
O
O
X
8
3
1
O
O
O
10
1
2
3
O
O
10
1
4
2
3
O
O
10
1
4
2
3
O
O
10
1
4
2
3
O
O
O
X
X
10
1
X
X
O
O
X
10
1
10
1
1
3
4
1
1
10
1
2
3
4
1
1
X
X
X
10
1
3
4
X
X
X
10
3
4
1
X
X
X
12
1
3
4

Dsus4 fits 10 of the twenty-four major and minor keys — a chord this open leaves most of the scale untouched. These are the 5 where it carries the weight, as the I, IV or V: I of D major, i of D minor, V of G major, v of G minor, iv of A minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Dsus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 5 0 2 3 3– 4 – 1 2 3
X X 0 2 3 3– – – 1 2 3
X X 0 2 X 3– – – 1 – 2
X 5 5 2 X X– 3 4 1 – –
X 5 0 0 3 5– 3 – – 1 4
X X 0 0 3 5– – – – 1 3
X X 0 0 X 5– – – – – 1
X 5 5 7 8 5– 1 1 3 4 2
X 5 5 7 X 5– 1 1 3 – 2
10 0 0 0 8 103 – – – 1 4
10 0 0 0 8 X3 – – – 1 –
10 0 0 0 10 101 – – – 2 3
10 12 0 0 10 101 4 – – 2 3
10 0 12 0 10 101 – 4 – 2 3
10 0 0 12 10 101 – – 4 2 3
10 0 0 0 X X1 – – – – –
X X 0 0 10 X– – – – 1 –
10 10 12 12 10 101 1 3 4 1 1
10 12 12 12 10 101 2 3 4 1 1
10 12 X 12 X X1 3 – 4 – –
X X 12 12 10 X– – 3 4 1 –
X X 12 14 X 15– – 1 3 – 4

D7sus4

DGAC
13 shapes · open & play
X
X
O
2
1
3
X
O
5
1
2
4
3
X
X
O
5
1
4
2
X
5
1
1
1
4
2
X
5
1
3
1
4
1
X
X
5
1
3
2
4
O
O
O
8
3
1
1
O
O
O
8
3
4
1
O
O
8
3
4
1
1
X
X
O
O
8
3
1
O
10
1
1
1
2
3
10
1
3
1
4
1
1
X
X
12
1
3
2
4

D7sus4 turns up as the i, V, v, iv chord across 8 keys: i of D minor, V of G major, v of G minor, iv of A minor, vi of F major, ii of C major, iii of Bb major, VII of E minor.

Fret and finger numbers for D7sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X X 0 2 1 3– – – 2 1 3
X 5 0 5 8 5– 1 – 2 4 3
X X 0 5 8 5– – – 1 4 2
X 5 5 5 8 5– 1 1 1 4 2
X 5 7 5 8 5– 1 3 1 4 1
X 5 7 5 8 X– 1 3 2 4 –
10 0 0 0 8 83 – – – 1 1
10 0 0 0 10 83 – – – 4 1
10 0 10 0 8 83 – 4 – 1 1
X X 0 0 10 8– – – – 3 1
10 10 10 0 10 101 1 1 – 2 3
10 12 10 12 10 101 3 1 4 1 1
X X 12 14 13 15– – 1 3 2 4

Dmaj7sus4

DGAC#
11 shapes · open & play
X
X
O
O
2
1
4
X
X
2
3
4
1
1
X
2
3
4
1
1
2
X
X
O
5
2
4
1
X
5
1
1
3
4
2
X
5
1
3
2
4
1
O
O
O
8
3
1
2
O
O
O
X
9
2
1
10
1
1
2
3
1
1
10
1
3
2
4
1
1
X
X
O
14
1
1
2

Dmaj7sus4 is the I and the III chord of D major and B minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Dmaj7sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X X 0 0 2 5– – – – 1 4
X 5 5 2 2 X– 3 4 1 1 –
X 5 5 2 2 3– 3 4 1 1 2
X X 0 6 8 5– – – 2 4 1
X 5 5 6 8 5– 1 1 3 4 2
X 5 7 6 8 5– 1 3 2 4 1
10 0 0 0 8 93 – – – 1 2
10 0 0 0 X 92 – – – – 1
10 10 11 12 10 101 1 2 3 1 1
10 12 11 12 10 101 3 2 4 1 1
X X 0 14 14 15– – – 1 1 2

D7sus2

DEAC
7 shapes · open & play
X
X
O
O
2
1
X
O
5
1
4
2
3
X
5
1
3
1
1
1
X
5
1
3
1
1
4
O
O
X
O
10
1
4
X
X
O
12
3
2
1
X
X
12
1
4
3
2

D7sus2 turns up as the i, V, iv, vi chord across 6 keys: i of D minor, V of G major, iv of A minor, vi of F major, ii of C major, VII of E minor.

Fret and finger numbers for D7sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X X 0 2 1 0– – – 2 1 –
X 5 7 5 5 0– 1 4 2 3 –
X 5 7 5 5 5– 1 3 1 1 1
X 5 7 5 5 8– 1 3 1 1 4
10 0 0 X 13 01 – – – 4 –
X X 0 14 13 12– – – 3 2 1
X X 12 14 13 12– – 1 4 3 2

Dmaj7sus2

DEAC#
15 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
2
4
1
1
X
O
2
4
1
1
1
X
X
O
O
1
1
X
O
5
1
4
2
3
X
O
5
1
4
3
2
X
X
O
5
2
1
1
X
5
1
3
2
1
1
O
O
9
3
1
4
2
O
9
2
4
1
3
1
O
9
2
4
1
3
1
X
X
O
9
1
3
2
X
X
9
4
1
3
2
O
X
X
O
10
1
2
X
X
O
12
3
4
1
X
X
12
1
3
4
2

Dmaj7sus2 turns up as the I, IV, VI, III chord across 4 keys: I of D major, IV of A major, VI of F# minor, III of B minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Dmaj7sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 5 0 2 2 0– 4 – 1 1 –
X 5 2 2 2 0– 4 1 1 1 –
X X 0 2 2 0– – – 1 1 –
X 5 0 6 5 5– 1 – 4 2 3
X 5 7 6 5 0– 1 4 3 2 –
X X 0 6 5 5– – – 2 1 1
X 5 7 6 5 5– 1 3 2 1 1
10 0 0 9 10 93 – – 1 4 2
10 12 0 9 10 92 4 – 1 3 1
10 0 12 9 10 92 – 4 1 3 1
X X 0 9 10 9– – – 1 3 2
X X 12 9 10 9– – 4 1 3 2
10 0 11 X X 01 – 2 – – –
X X 0 14 14 12– – – 3 4 1
X X 12 14 14 12– – 1 3 4 2

D6sus4

DGAB
20 shapes · open & play
X
O
X
2
3
4
1
X
X
O
O
1
2
X
O
4
2
3
1
4
X
O
O
O
5
1
2
X
O
O
5
1
1
2
X
O
O
5
1
3
2
X
O
5
1
1
3
2
X
O
O
5
1
3
4
X
X
O
O
O
5
1
O
O
O
O
7
4
1
7
3
4
1
1
2
1
O
O
8
3
2
1
4
O
O
O
9
2
1
3
O
O
9
2
1
3
4
O
O
O
O
X
10
1
O
O
O
10
1
3
2
O
O
O
10
1
3
2
O
O
10
1
3
4
2
X
X
O
12
3
1
4
X
X
12
1
3
2
4

D6sus4 turns up as the I, V, iv, ii chord across 6 keys: I of D major, V of G major, iv of A minor, ii of C major, III of B minor, VII of E minor.

Fret and finger numbers for D6sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 5 5 2 0 X– 3 4 1 – –
X X 0 2 0 3– – – 1 – 2
X 5 5 4 0 5– 2 3 1 – 4
X 5 0 0 0 5– 1 – – – 2
X 5 5 0 0 5– 1 1 – – 2
X 5 7 0 0 5– 1 3 – – 2
X 5 5 7 0 5– 1 1 3 – 2
X 5 7 0 0 7– 1 3 – – 4
X X 0 0 0 5– – – – – 1
10 0 0 0 0 74 – – – – 1
10 10 7 7 8 73 4 1 1 2 1
10 0 9 0 8 103 – 2 – 1 4
10 0 9 0 0 102 – 1 – – 3
10 0 9 0 10 102 – 1 – 3 4
10 0 0 0 0 X1 – – – – –
10 12 0 0 0 101 3 – – – 2
10 0 12 0 0 101 – 3 – – 2
10 12 12 0 0 101 3 4 – – 2
X X 0 14 12 15– – – 3 1 4
X X 12 14 12 15– – 1 3 2 4

D6sus2

DEAB
20 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
O
2
4
1
X
X
O
O
O
1
X
O
4
2
1
3
4
X
X
O
4
1
2
3
X
O
O
5
1
3
4
X
X
O
O
5
1
3
O
O
O
O
7
4
1
O
O
O
7
4
1
1
O
O
O
O
9
2
1
O
O
O
9
2
1
1
O
O
9
2
1
1
3
O
O
O
9
2
1
3
O
O
9
2
1
1
3
O
9
2
1
1
3
4
O
O
X
O
O
10
1
X
X
O
O
12
3
1
X
X
O
12
3
1
1
X
X
O
12
1
3
2
X
X
O
12
1
3
2
X
X
12
1
4
2
3

D6sus2 turns up as the I, V, IV, iv chord across 8 keys: I of D major, V of G major, IV of A major, iv of A minor, VI of F# minor, ii of C major, III of B minor, VII of E minor.

Fret and finger numbers for D6sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 5 0 2 0 0– 4 – 1 – –
X X 0 2 0 0– – – 1 – –
X 5 0 4 5 5– 2 – 1 3 4
X X 0 4 5 5– – – 1 2 3
X 5 7 7 0 0– 1 3 4 – –
X 5 7 X 0 0– 1 3 – – –
10 0 0 7 0 04 – – 1 – –
10 0 7 7 0 04 – 1 1 – –
10 0 0 9 0 02 – – 1 – –
10 0 9 9 0 02 – 1 1 – –
10 0 9 9 10 02 – 1 1 3 –
10 0 0 9 0 102 – – 1 – 3
10 0 9 9 0 102 – 1 1 – 3
10 0 9 9 10 102 – 1 1 3 4
10 0 0 X 0 01 – – – – –
X X 0 14 0 12– – – 3 – 1
X X 0 14 12 12– – – 3 1 1
X X 12 14 0 12– – 1 3 – 2
X X 12 14 12 0– – 1 3 2 –
X X 12 14 12 12– – 1 4 2 3

Dm7b5

DFG#C
13 shapes · open & play
X
X
O
1
1
1
X
3
3
1
4
1
2
X
X
O
4
2
3
1
X
X
5
1
2
3
4
X
5
1
2
1
3
4
X
X
5
1
3
2
4
X
X
O
8
3
2
1
X
X
9
2
3
4
1
X
O
10
1
2
3
4
10
1
2
1
1
4
1
10
1
2
3
1
4
1
10
1
2
1
1
3
4
X
X
12
1
2
3
4

Dm7b5 is the ii° and the vii° chord of C minor and Eb major.

Fret and finger numbers for Dm7b5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X X 0 1 1 1– – – 1 1 1
X 5 3 5 3 4– 3 1 4 1 2
X X 0 5 6 4– – – 2 3 1
X 5 6 X 6 8– 1 2 – 3 4
X 5 6 5 6 8– 1 2 1 3 4
X 5 6 5 6 X– 1 3 2 4 –
X X 0 10 9 8– – – 3 2 1
10 X 10 10 9 X2 – 3 4 1 –
10 X 0 13 13 131 – – 2 3 4
10 11 10 10 13 101 2 1 1 4 1
10 11 12 10 13 101 2 3 1 4 1
10 11 10 10 13 131 2 1 1 3 4
X X 12 13 13 13– – 1 2 3 4

Dm7#5

DFBbC
8 shapes · open & play
X
X
O
3
1
1
X
X
O
5
1
2
3
X
5
1
4
1
2
3
X
X
5
1
2
3
4
X
X
O
8
3
4
1
X
X
8
3
1
1
2
10
1
4
1
1
2
1
X
X
12
1
4
2
3

Dm7#5 turns up as the i, v, vi, ii° chord across 6 keys: i of D minor, v of G minor, vi of F major, ii° of C minor, iii of Bb major, vii° of Eb major.

Fret and finger numbers for Dm7#5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X X 0 3 1 1– – – 3 1 1
X X 0 5 6 6– – – 1 2 3
X 5 8 5 6 6– 1 4 1 2 3
X 5 X 5 6 6– 1 – 2 3 4
X X 0 10 11 8– – – 3 4 1
10 8 8 X X 83 1 1 – – 2
10 13 10 10 11 101 4 1 1 2 1
X X 12 15 13 13– – 1 4 2 3

Ddim7

DFG#B
16 shapes · open & play
X
X
O
O
1
2
X
X
O
3
3
1
2
X
O
4
3
1
4
2
X
X
O
4
1
3
2
X
4
2
3
1
4
1
X
X
4
2
3
1
4
O
7
4
2
1
3
1
X
X
O
7
4
3
1
X
X
9
3
1
4
2
O
O
X
10
1
3
2
O
O
10
1
4
2
3
O
10
1
2
3
1
4
10
1
2
3
1
4
1
X
X
O
12
2
1
3
X
X
O
12
1
2
3
X
X
12
1
3
2
4

Ddim7 — Four notes stacked a minor third apart, so it belongs to no key in particular. That symmetry makes it a pivot: it can slide into almost any chord, which is why it turns up at the seams where a song changes direction.

Fret and finger numbers for Ddim7
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X X 0 1 0 1– – – 1 – 2
X 5 3 X 0 4– 3 1 – – 2
X 5 0 4 6 4– 3 – 1 4 2
X X 0 4 6 4– – – 1 3 2
X 5 6 4 6 4– 2 3 1 4 1
X 5 6 4 6 X– 2 3 1 4 –
10 8 0 7 9 74 2 – 1 3 1
X X 0 10 9 7– – – 4 3 1
10 X 9 10 9 X3 – 1 4 2 –
10 11 0 10 0 X1 3 – 2 – –
10 11 0 10 0 101 4 – 2 – 3
10 11 12 10 0 131 2 3 1 – 4
10 11 12 10 12 101 2 3 1 4 1
X X 0 13 12 13– – – 2 1 3
X X 12 13 0 13– – 1 2 – 3
X X 12 13 12 13– – 1 3 2 4

D7b9

DF#ACEb
4 shapes · open & play
X
4
2
1
3
1
4
O
O
7
4
2
1
3
O
7
4
1
2
1
3
O
8
3
2
1
4
1

D7b9 — A dominant seventh with a flattened ninth on top. The ninth is outside the key, which is the point: it makes the resolution feel earned. Very common resolving into a minor chord.

Fret and finger numbers for D7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 5 4 5 4 5– 2 1 3 1 4
10 0 0 8 7 84 – – 2 1 3
10 0 7 8 7 84 – 1 2 1 3
10 9 0 8 10 83 2 – 1 4 1

D7#9

DF#ACF
6 shapes · open & play
O
O
7
3
4
1
2
7
4
2
1
1
1
3
O
8
3
2
3
3
1
9
2
1
3
3
3
3
O
O
10
1
2
3
4
10
1
3
1
2
1
4

D7#9 — The Hendrix chord. A dominant seventh carrying both a major third and a raised ninth — which is the minor third in disguise. Major and minor at once, and neither.

Fret and finger numbers for D7#9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
10 0 0 10 7 83 – – 4 1 2
10 8 7 7 7 84 2 1 1 1 3
10 9 0 10 10 83 2 – 3 3 1
10 9 10 10 10 102 1 3 3 3 3
10 0 0 11 13 131 – – 2 3 4
10 12 10 11 10 131 3 1 2 1 4

D7b5

DF#G#C
11 shapes · open & play
X
X
O
1
1
2
X
O
4
2
3
4
1
X
X
O
4
2
4
1
X
4
2
1
3
4
1
X
X
4
3
1
4
2
X
5
1
2
1
3
4
X
X
5
1
3
2
4
O
X
8
4
2
3
1
X
X
O
8
4
2
1
10
1
2
1
3
4
1
X
X
12
1
2
3
4

D7b5 — A dominant seventh with the fifth flattened. It is a V chord under tension, and it resolves like one; the flat fifth just sharpens the pull.

Fret and finger numbers for D7b5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X X 0 1 1 2– – – 1 1 2
X 5 0 5 7 4– 2 – 3 4 1
X X 0 5 7 4– – – 2 4 1
X 5 4 5 7 4– 2 1 3 4 1
X 5 4 5 X 4– 3 1 4 – 2
X 5 6 5 7 8– 1 2 1 3 4
X 5 6 5 7 X– 1 3 2 4 –
10 9 0 X 9 84 2 – – 3 1
X X 0 11 9 8– – – 4 2 1
10 11 10 11 13 101 2 1 3 4 1
X X 12 13 13 14– – 1 2 3 4

Daug7

DF#BbC
9 shapes · open & play
X
X
O
3
1
2
X
X
4
2
1
3
4
X
O
5
1
2
4
3
X
X
O
5
1
3
2
X
5
1
4
1
3
2
X
X
O
8
3
4
1
X
X
8
4
3
1
2
10
1
4
1
2
3
1
X
X
12
1
4
2
3

Daug7 — A dominant seventh with the fifth raised. Same job as a plain seventh — pulling toward the chord a fourth above — with more strain in the middle of the chord.

Fret and finger numbers for Daug7
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X X 0 3 1 2– – – 3 1 2
X 5 4 5 X 6– 2 1 3 – 4
X 5 0 5 7 6– 1 – 2 4 3
X X 0 5 7 6– – – 1 3 2
X 5 8 5 7 6– 1 4 1 3 2
X X 0 11 11 8– – – 3 4 1
10 9 8 X X 84 3 1 – – 2
10 13 10 11 11 101 4 1 2 3 1
X X 12 15 13 14– – 1 4 2 3

Daug7b9

DF#BbCEb
5 shapes · open & play
X
4
2
1
3
1
4
O
8
3
2
1
4
1
8
3
2
1
1
4
1
10
1
4
1
2
2
2
10
1
3
3
2
4
1

Daug7b9 — A dominant seventh with both the fifth and the ninth altered. It exists to make the chord it resolves to sound like relief.

Fret and finger numbers for Daug7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 5 4 5 4 6– 2 1 3 1 4
10 9 0 8 11 83 2 – 1 4 1
10 9 8 8 11 83 2 1 1 4 1
10 13 10 11 11 111 4 1 2 2 2
10 13 13 11 13 101 3 3 2 4 1

Dm7b9

DFACEb
6 shapes · open & play
8
2
1
3
1
4
1
10
1
3
1
1
1
2
10
1
3
1
1
4
2
10
1
2
3
1
4
1
10
1
3
3
1
4
2
10
1
2
3
1
4
4

Dm7b9 is the v and the iii chord of G minor and Bb major.

Fret and finger numbers for Dm7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
10 8 10 8 10 82 1 3 1 4 1
10 12 10 10 10 111 3 1 1 1 2
10 12 10 10 13 111 3 1 1 4 2
10 12 13 10 13 101 2 3 1 4 1
10 12 12 10 13 111 3 3 1 4 2
10 12 13 10 13 131 2 3 1 4 4

Every chord above has an open & play link that opens it in the interactive dictionary, where you can hear it and step through the shapes. You can also work backwards from a shape you are already holding.