How to play Dβ―min/maj9/Cπͺ chord on guitar
Shape a88bbb
Shape characteristics
Barre chord
Your first finger flattens across multiple strings at the same fret. Movable up and down the neck to any key without changing the shape.
Upper register Β· fret 8-11
Brighter, more focused tone with less low-end. Works well when layering over a bassist or second guitar, and integrates naturally with lead-line phrasing higher on the neck.
Full six-string voicing
All six strings ring, giving you the biggest, most resonant version of this chord, ideal for strumming and solo acoustic contexts.
Bass: D Β· Top: Dβ―
The lowest note isn't a traditional chord tone for this chord, so the voicing has an added colour or slash-chord flavour.
Shape a80bbb is the closest alternative voicing. Try both to see which fits better.
How to play this shape
- 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 4th string and 5th string in barre position
- 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 6th string
- 3 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 1st string, 2nd string, and 3rd string in barre position
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "a88bbb" mean?
The sequence a88bbb is a highly compact guitar chord notation. It represents the fret played on each of the 6 strings, reading left-to-right from the thickest (lowest pitch) string to the thinnest (highest pitch) string: E, A, D, G, B, e.
- x means the string is muted or skipped entirely.
- 0 means the string is played "open" (without pressing over a fret).
- 1-9 represent standard fret numbers 1 to 9.
- a, b, c... represent frets 10, 11, 12, and higher (where a=10, b=11, c=12).
Can I play this Dβ―min/maj9/Cπͺ shape anywhere else?
Yes! This specific layout is just one way to voice a Dβ―min/maj9/Cπͺ chord. You can find all other variations in our chord shape library for Dβ―min/maj9/Cπͺ. Most guitarists choose different shapes based on whether they want a "brighter" or "deeper" sound, or which chord they are transitioning from.
Other shapes
Showing 8 of 9 playable shapes