Dm to G chord change
Your ring finger moves across to another string on the same fret; your index finger and middle finger lift and move. Your strumming hand changes too: Dm starts on the D string, G 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
- Lifts and movesIndex finger (1) lifts and moves from the high e string, 1st fret to the A string, 2nd fret.
- Lifts and movesMiddle finger (2) lifts and moves from the G string, 2nd fret to the low E string, 3rd fret.
- Moves across, same fretRing finger (3) moves across from the B string to the high e string, staying on the 3rd fret.
| Finger | On Dm | On G | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Index finger (1) | high e string, 1st fret | A string, 2nd fret | Lifts and moves |
| Middle finger (2) | G string, 2nd fret | low E string, 3rd fret | Lifts and moves |
| Ring finger (3) | B string, 3rd fret | high e string, 3rd fret | Moves across, same fret |
How to practise Dm to G
- Play Dm and pick each string on its own. Fix any string that buzzes before you start changing.
- Lead with the middle finger. In G it plays the lowest note (the low E string, 3rd fret), which is the first string you strum, so aim it there first and let the other fingers follow.
- Do “ghost changes”: switch from Dm to G 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 G. 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.
An easier way to play it
Dm to G (G with ring, middle and little finger): fewer fingers have to travel. It is the same pair of chords, just fingered so the change is shorter.
- Lifts offIndex finger (1) lifts off (it was on the high e string, 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 low E string, 3rd fret.
- Goes downLittle finger (4) goes down on the high e string, 3rd fret.
One-minute Dm to G 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 to use it in
None of the songs in our free library change straight from Dm to G yet, but these use G, so the shape will come in handy.
Dm to G: questions
Which finger stays down when you change from Dm to G?
None stays in exactly the same place with the standard shapes. Your ring finger moves across to another string on the same fret; your index finger and middle finger lift and move. With the easier fingering on this page, fewer fingers can stay in contact.
How do I change from Dm to G 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. If it still feels slow, try the easier version: Dm to G.
How many Dm to G changes a minute is good?
Count every clean change: Dm to G 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 G?
Dm to G is ii to V in the key of C, the most common move toward C in pop and jazz.
Is G to Dm the same as Dm to G?
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.