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D/E

  1. E2bass
  2. DRtriad
  3. F♯3triad
  4. A5triad
Open D/E in the chord libraryDownload the D/E chart (PDF)
Voicings

3 ways to play D/E

Every voicing sits inside one of the five CAGED shapes, low to high on the neck, with its octave doublings in grey.

  • Triad note
  • Substitute
  • Added
  • Anchored root
  • Bass
  • Doubling
AA shape 2nd inversion D/E
5 6 7 8 3 R 5 2

Frets x 7 7 7 7 xNotes E A D F♯Intervals 2 5 1 3Base triadD major, 2nd inversion

EE shape 2nd inversion D/E
10 11 12 13 3 R 5 2

Frets 12 12 12 11 x xNotes E A D F♯Intervals 2 5 1 3Base triadD major, 2nd inversion

DD shape 2nd inversion D/E
1 2 3 4 3 R 5 2

Frets x x 2 2 3 2Notes E A D F♯Intervals 2 5 1 3Base triadD major, 2nd inversion

The rules

The construction rules D/E follows

  1. Start from a triad

    Root, 3rd and 5th, stacked in thirds. The 3rd makes it major or minor; the 5th makes it diminished or augmented when it moves.

  2. A slash names the bass

    Chord/bass puts any note under a triad. A chord tone gives an inversion, such as C/E; another note gives a new chord: G/F is G7 with the 7th in the bass.

All the rules, with examples, in the guide to the chord library.

Major triad over the 2nd in every key

More chords on D

D/E chord questions

What notes are in D/E?

D/E is spelled E D F♯ A: E is the 2nd, D is the root, F♯ is the 3rd, A is the 5th.

What is the formula of D/E?

2 1 3 5. It is a D major triad, over E in the bass.

How many ways can you play D/E on guitar?

This page shows 3 voicings of D/E, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.