G to D chord change
Your index finger and ring finger move across to another string on the same fret; your middle finger lifts and moves. Your strumming hand changes too: G uses all six strings, D starts on the D string.
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 A string to the G string, staying on the 2nd fret.
- Lifts and movesMiddle finger (2) lifts and moves from the low E string, 3rd fret to the high e string, 2nd fret.
- Moves across, same fretRing finger (3) moves across from the high e string to the B string, staying on the 3rd fret.
| Finger | On G | On D | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Index finger (1) | A string, 2nd fret | G string, 2nd fret | Moves across, same fret |
| Middle finger (2) | low E string, 3rd fret | high e string, 2nd fret | Lifts and moves |
| Ring finger (3) | high e string, 3rd fret | B string, 3rd fret | Moves across, same fret |
How to practise G to D
- Play G and pick each string on its own. Fix any string that buzzes before you start changing.
- Lead with the middle finger: it has the furthest to go (to the high e string, 2nd fret). Aim it first and let the other fingers follow.
- Do “ghost changes”: switch from G to D and back 20 times without strumming. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, and land them all together.
- Now strum: four strums on G, four on D. 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
G to D (G with the B string on the 3rd fret): the ring finger stays down. It is the same pair of chords, just fingered so the change is shorter.
- Moves across, same fretIndex finger (1) moves across from the A string to the G string, staying on the 2nd fret.
- Lifts and movesMiddle finger (2) lifts and moves from the low E string, 3rd fret to the high e string, 2nd fret.
- Stays putRing finger (3) stays put on the B string, 3rd fret.
- Lifts offLittle finger (4) lifts off (it was on the high e string, 3rd fret).
One-minute G to D trainer
Press Start, hold G 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 G to D
These songs in our free song library change between G and D. Each one has a play-along that counts you in and lights up the chord to play.
- Joy to the World6 changes
- Oh! Susanna6 changes
- Polly Wolly Doodle6 changes
- Angels We Have Heard on High5 changes
- O Come, All Ye Faithful5 changes
- Amazing Grace4 changes
- Blow the Man Down4 changes
- Buffalo Gals4 changes
- Careless Love4 changes
- Cotton-Eyed Joe4 changes
- Give Me That Old Time Religion4 changes
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing4 changes
And 43 more in the song library.
G to D: questions
Which finger stays down when you change from G to D?
None stays in exactly the same place with the standard shapes. Your index finger and ring finger move across to another string on the same fret; your middle finger lifts and moves. With the easier fingering on this page, ring finger can stay in contact.
How do I change from G to D 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: G to D.
How many G to D changes a minute is good?
Count every clean change: G to D 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 G and D?
In our free song library, Joy to the World, Oh! Susanna, Polly Wolly Doodle and Angels We Have Heard on High, and 51 more use it. G and D are the I and V chords in the key of G. In a song in G, this is the change at the end of almost every line.
Is D to G the same as G to D?
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.