OK - so I´m able to hold down the second string with my pinky but I cannot get my ring finger to move back and away from the strings. I´ve therefore resorted to tucking my ring finger under the guitar neck which sometimes works but other times it mutes the thinnest string. Any finger exercise recommendations to get by ring finger to move independently of the other fingers?
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there are several related topics. enough we could use a nice way to find them. 
Here is what I answered in another similar topic:
Index finger and ring finger tend to creep to each other - #2 by sequences
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Thanks for the help. I´m still struggling with this but have developed a workaround and wanted to know if people would recommend this as good practice or not. First two fingers are fine but I cannot get a stetch to the third fret with my ring finger, and I cannot lift my ring finger up when I use my pinky. So I find myself holding down the second string with both my ring finger and pinky! This way my ring finger isn´t hitting other strings and its ´helping´the pinky hold down the second string.
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Hi Richard @richardsteedman, using two fingers to hold one (or more) string is not a good idea. Especially at this stage of the journey, it discourages building strength and finger independence (which, unfortunately, is exactly what we beginners struggle with!). Additionally, in future you’ll begin to use one of those other fingers for other chord embellishments.
I don’t recall if you already answered this - are you doing the beginner finger stretch exercise in Grade 1 Module 4 (the module immediately preceding the Dm lesson)? I’ve been at this for over a year and a half, and I still include those stretches in my daily exercises. Just 2-3 minutes does the trick!
You’ll get this. Keep us posted. 
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Hi Richard @richardsteedman, the finger stretch exercise suggested by Judi is a good idea. You could also incorporate some finger independency exercises into your practice routine.
You could try this: put your 4 fingers on the lowest string in different frets, somewhere higher up the neck where the stretch feels comfortable. Then carefully move one string up, first fingers 1 and 2 together, then fingers 3 and 4 together. Move your fingers up, then down all the strings carefully, making sure only the 2 fingers you want to move together actually move. Then repeat the exercise, but this time move fingers 1 and 3 together, and 2 and 4. Do this for every combination of fingers you can think of.
It requires patience, but if you do this every time you practise, bit by bit you’ll be able to move your fingers more independently of each other, which should help in preventing your third finger from pressing down when you don’t want it to.
Good luck, and keep going! You will get there!
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Which chords are usually combined with Dm? For now I only did the one minute chord changes between Dm and Am. I’m wondering which other combinations make sense but I’m lacking the music theory for it.
Any hints which chord changes with Dm I should try?
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Hi Balthasar,
Welcome here and I wish you a lot of fun…
For example, you could use some chords from the C key like…C major or E minor or F major or G major or A minor …While I consciously omit the B major, I realize that F is of course also not a chord for grade 1 …I hope this helps 
Greetings,Rogier
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Thanks a lot. In this point in time in module 4 I can neither play C major, F major, G major nor A minor.
But I will definitely add E minor to A minor to my one minute chord changes practice. 
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Hi Balthasar @usr42, welcome to the community! I usually select chord changes to practice based on songs I’m practicing. You’ll learn the C chord in module 5, and many (most?) of the songs Justin suggests for practice in module 5 include Dm. Cue the one minute changes!
While you’re here, consider telling us a bit about your guitar journey over here.
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Hi Balthasar,
Since you are at the Dm stage, you should already know A,D,E, Am & Em.
My suggestion would be go over to the website
and type in all the chords you know on the songs page. (you have to do this to bring up a song list) It’s below the search.
A list of songs come up with those chords in it. That would give you a good starting point for what other chords go with Dm. 
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RE: both of these approaches.
No.
Please, stop immediately. You are creating a really bad habit. Stop it before it starts.
Did anyone else have trouble playing the Dm chord? I am using the finger position he is using but find my pinky muting the high e string. If I work a little, I can get it. I was just curious if anyone used fingers 1-2-3 vs 1-2-4?
Thank you
Tim
I use 1-2-3. Works OK for me.
I use my ring finger instead of the pinky
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Most everybody! If you search for “D minor” in this community, you will find lots of discussion, including the merits of 1-2-3 and 1-2-4 fingering.
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Hi Tim,
To answer your question:
Yes! It took me a while to get comfortable with Dm, and some days it still feels difficult. You’re early in your journey, so don’t worry too much at this point. I’m (slowly) consolidating Grade 2; like many others, I typically use fingers 1-2-3 but also eventually learned the 1-2-4 grip. You’ll find alternate grips become easier as the spread of your fingers on your left hand increases. This comes with naturally with practice - including finger stretching exercises which, if you haven’t yet encountered, you will soon. You’ll also eventually encounter situations where a specific grip makes a chord change easier. With that motivation, I find it much easier to finally tackle a particularly challenging grip.
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Hey Timmy,
Personally, I use my pinky finger, just helps to get it involved, but with any new chords it is tricky to get and you will mute a lot of strings until it becomes muscle memory. Dm, D, A, and even C when you are first starting out, you will mute strings you don’t mean to all the time. After some time and practice it slowly starts becoming second nature, but it takes hours on hours.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with using the 3rd finger if it is easier. I believe it is all about using what you can do the most comfortable way. Can always alternate between the two. Use the pinky as the workout (maybe not as fun practice) and switch it up and use the 3rd finger for fun playing?
Another tidbit is if you are having this problem with the Dm chord, you are most certainly going to have the same problem with the F chord when you start it. I say this because muting strings that I didn’t want to mute, was the most frustrating part of learning guitar for me and almost made me quit in the beginning. I found out it was just my pinky needing to work on its technique and strength. You can always play the F chord with your thumb, but if you are like me that way of playing it is incredibly difficult and you probably will want to stick with the non-thumb version.
I know you are in grade 1 and F chord is a grade 2 thing, not to worry about right now, but I mention it because I had the same exact problems you are facing, and I think a little heads up before you get to that point might be beneficial.
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Worth spending some time checking out the below thread as very common question and lots of tips given in it.
@Richard_close2u you may want to migrate this thread over to the Dm lesson thread when you get a moment.
I have watched the video. I guess my curiosity is if others were struggling and which fingers they used
Hi Tim, if you click on the first orange “The D Minor Chord” in my post above it will take you to the lesson thread where discussions on others struggles and fingering is contained.
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