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D 7th chord on bass (D7)
Also called or written D7, D, D Dominant 7th or D Major Minor 7th
D 7th is built from D, F♯, A, and C. This advanced shape stretches the pinky to the 12th fret on the A string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionD–F♯–A–CD710-12-10-11
- First inversionF♯–A–C–DD7/F♯2-3-0-2
- Second inversionA–C–D–F♯D7/A5-5-4-5
- Third inversionC–D–F♯–AD7/C8-9-7-7
How do you play a D 7th chord on bass?
D 7th is played at the 10th fret as 10 12 10 11: index finger on the E string at fret 10, pinky finger on the A string at fret 12, middle finger on the D string at fret 10 and ring finger on the G string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10 | 1 | D (1) |
| 3 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (5) |
| 2 (D) | 10 | 2 | C (♭7) |
| 1 (G) | 11 | 3 | F♯ (3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 12th fret on the A string while the index and middle fingers hold the 10th fret.
D7/F♯ inversion
D 7th is played in open position as 2 3 0 2: index finger on the E string at fret 2, ring finger on the A string at fret 3 and middle finger on the G string at fret 2. The D string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2 | 1 | F♯ (3) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (♭7) |
| 2 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 1 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (5) |
D7/A inversion
D 7th is played at the 4th fret as 5 5 4 5: middle finger on the E string at fret 5, ring finger on the A string at fret 5, index finger on the D string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5 | 2 | A (5) |
| 3 (A) | 5 | 3 | D (1) |
| 2 (D) | 4 | 1 | F♯ (3) |
| 1 (G) | 5 | 4 | C (♭7) |
D7/C inversion
D 7th is played at the 7th fret as 8 9 7 7: ring finger on the E string at fret 8, pinky finger on the A string at fret 9, index finger on the D string at fret 7 and middle finger on the G string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8 | 3 | C (♭7) |
| 3 (A) | 9 | 4 | F♯ (3) |
| 2 (D) | 7 | 1 | A (5) |
| 1 (G) | 7 | 2 | D (1) |
Why it sounds like that
D 7th stacks a major 3rd, perfect 5th, and minor 7th over the root D. The minor 7th C creates the dominant pull toward G major. Compare with D major, which omits the 7th.
What goes wrong with D 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse and buzz the A string.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the D string and deaden the F♯.
When to use it
D 7th functions as the V chord in G major, resolving to G major in progressions like G–C–D–G (I–IV–V–I). Use it in blues, rock, and funk bass lines where the dominant 7th adds tension.
Changing to and from D 7th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 8th fret gives C 7th.
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 9th fret gives C♯ 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 10th fret position keeps D in the bass for a root-position sound. The D7/F♯ inversion at the 2nd fret puts F♯ in the bass, useful for stepwise bass movement.
Other D chords
Common questions
How is D 7th written?
D 7th is written as D or D7. The symbol D7 is more common in chord charts.
What is the difference between D 7th and D major?
D 7th adds a minor 7th, C, to the D major triad. This gives the chord its dominant, tension-filled quality.
Why does D 7th resolve to G major?
The tritone between F♯ and C creates a strong pull toward the G major chord. This resolution is fundamental in tonal harmony.