Dm to E chord change
Your index finger and middle finger move across to another string on the same fret; your ring finger lifts and moves. Your strumming hand changes too: Dm starts on the D string, E uses all six strings.
Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little finger. o means play the string open, ✕ means don’t play it.
Finger by finger
- Moves across, same fretIndex finger (1) moves across from the high e string to the G string, staying on the 1st fret.
- Moves across, same fretMiddle finger (2) moves across from the G string to the A string, staying on the 2nd fret.
- Lifts and movesRing finger (3) lifts and moves from the B string, 3rd fret to the D string, 2nd fret.
| Finger | On Dm | On E | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Index finger (1) | high e string, 1st fret | G string, 1st fret | Moves across, same fret |
| Middle finger (2) | G string, 2nd fret | A string, 2nd fret | Moves across, same fret |
| Ring finger (3) | B string, 3rd fret | D string, 2nd fret | Lifts and moves |
How to practise Dm to E
- Play Dm and pick each string on its own. Fix any string that buzzes before you start changing.
- Lead with the ring finger: it has the furthest to go (to the D string, 2nd fret). Aim it first and let the other fingers follow.
- Do “ghost changes”: switch from Dm to E and back 20 times without strumming. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, and land them all together.
- Now strum: four strums on Dm, four on E. When that is clean, try two strums each, then one.
- Time yourself with the trainer below: one minute, counting every clean change. Do it once a day and watch the number climb.
One-minute Dm to E trainer
Press Start, hold Dm through the count-in, then change back and forth for one minute. Tap the big button (or press the space bar) every time you land a clean chord. Your best score is kept.
Want other chords? Open the full chord change trainer.
Songs that use Dm to E
These songs in our free song library change between Dm and E. Each one has a play-along that counts you in and lights up the chord to play.
Dm to E: questions
Which finger stays down when you change from Dm to E?
None stays in exactly the same place with the standard shapes. Your index finger and middle finger move across to another string on the same fret; your ring finger lifts and moves.
How do I change from Dm to E faster?
Practise the change on its own, not inside a song. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, land them all at once, and lead with the finger that has the longest trip. Then do one minute of changes a day with a timer and count them.
How many Dm to E changes a minute is good?
Count every clean change: Dm to E is one, and back again is two. Around 30 in a minute is a solid start and enough for slow songs. At 40 most songs at a relaxed tempo start to flow, and at about 60 (one change a second) the change is ready for almost anything.
What songs use Dm and E?
In our free song library, When Johnny Comes Marching Home use it. Dm to E is iv to V in A minor, a classic way back to Am.
Is E to Dm the same as Dm to E?
It uses the same moves in reverse. Practise both directions: the trainer counts each switch either way.
More chord changes
Learn the chords in the right order
Fretwork’s lessons teach one chord at a time, with a ring test and a one-minute change check before you move on. The first two stages are free.