Shape characteristics
Open chord
Uses one or more open strings, giving the chord a bright, resonant ring and making it easier to hold for long passages.
Open position
All sounding strings ring open, making this the most resonant and easiest position on the guitar.
2-string voicing
A partial voicing that focuses on specific chord tones rather than a full harmonic stack.
Bass: A · Top: D
The 3rd sits in the bass, softening the chord's feel and creating smooth stepwise bass motion when moving to nearby chords.
Compared to Shape 5x0235 , this voicing sits higher on the neck (starting at fret 2) and adds 3 more ringing strings for a fuller sound.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "x00xxx" mean?
The sequence x00xxx 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 D5/A shape anywhere else?
Yes! This specific layout is just one way to voice a D5/A chord. You can find all other variations in our chord shape library for D5/A. Most guitarists choose different shapes based on whether they want a "brighter" or "deeper" sound, or which chord they are transitioning from.
Why do some strings have an 'x'?
Strings marked with an 'x' should not ring out. These notes are excluded because they don't belong to the D5/A chord or would clash with this specific voicing. You can mute these strings by lightly touching them with a finger that is already pressing a neighboring fret.
How do I stop my fingers from buzzing?
Since this shape uses open strings (marked with '0'), make sure your fingers are arched like a "claw" so they don't accidentally brush against the open strings. Press down firmly just behind the metal fret wires for the clearest sound.
Other shapes
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