Tools / Chords / D minor 7th

D minor 7th chord on bass (Dm7)

Also written Dm7 or Dmin7

D minor 7th contains D, F, A, and C. The 10th-fret shape is the same grip as B♭ minor 7th moved up four frets, so the stretch feels identical but higher on the neck.

10th fret10-12-10-10

Positions on the neck1 of 4

How it’s built

D1Root

F♭3Minor 3rd

A5Perfect 5th

C♭7Minor 7th

Formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7

Positions on the neck1 of 4

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionD–F–A–CDm7Bass D

First inversionF–A–C–DDm7/FBass F

Second inversionA–C–D–FDm7/ABass A

Third inversionC–D–F–ADm7/CBass C

Why it sounds like that

D minor 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7. The ♭3 and ♭7 give it a mellow, minor sound. Compare it with D minor, which omits the ♭7.

What goes wrong with D minor 7th?

Letting the pinky collapse and buzz on the 3rd string, 12th fret.
Accidentally muting the 2nd string with the ring finger while fretting the 1st.
Pressing too hard with the index finger, sharpening the note on the 4th string.

When to use it

D minor 7th appears in the I–V–vi–IV progression in F major: F major–C major–D minor–B♭ major. It suits folk, pop, and classic rock where the ♭7 adds a gentle, unresolved quality.

Changing to and from D minor 7th

Sliding the shape down two frets to the 8th fret gives C minor 7th.
Sliding the shape down one fret to the 9th fret gives C♯ minor 7th.

Which voicing to use

The 10th-fret shape keeps D in the bass for a solid root-position sound. The Dm7/F inversion at the 1st fret puts F in the bass, which works well when the bass line moves stepwise from F to G. The Dm7/A inversion at the 5th fret places A in the bass, creating a brighter, more open sound.

How do you play a D minor 7th chord on bass?

10th fret

Intermediate● On the diagram

D minor 7th is played at the 10th fret as 10 12 10 10: 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 10.

Tip — The wide stretch from the index finger on fret 10 to the pinky on fret 12 is demanding, especially in the higher register.

String-by-string 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)	10	3	F (♭3)

Dm7/F inversion

Beginner

D minor 7th is played in open position as 1 3 0 2: index finger on the E string at fret 1, ring finger on the A string at fret 3 and middle finger on the G string at fret 2. The D string rings open.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (E)	1	1	F (♭3)
3 (A)	3	3	C (♭7)
2 (D)	open	—	D (1)
1 (G)	2	2	A (5)

Dm7/A inversion

Intermediate

D minor 7th is played at the 3rd fret as 5 5 3 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 3 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 5.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (E)	5	2	A (5)
3 (A)	5	3	D (1)
2 (D)	3	1	F (♭3)
1 (G)	5	4	C (♭7)

Dm7/C inversion

Barre

D minor 7th is played at the 7th fret as 8 8 7 7: barre your index finger across fret 7, middle finger on the E string at fret 8 and ring finger on the A string at fret 8.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (E)	8	2	C (♭7)
3 (A)	8	3	F (♭3)
2 (D)	7	1 (barre)	A (5)
1 (G)	7	1 (barre)	D (1)

Common questions

What is the difference between D minor 7th and D minor?

D minor 7th adds the ♭7, C, to the D minor triad. This extra note gives the chord a softer, more sophisticated sound.

Why does the Dm7/F inversion sound less stable?

The ♭3 in the bass creates a slight tension because it is not the root. This inversion is often used as a passing chord to lead into a chord with a lower root.

Can D minor 7th be played in open position?

Yes, the Dm7/F inversion at the 1st fret uses the open D string. This voicing is easier for beginners and has a warm, resonant tone.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (E)

D (1)

3 (A)

A (5)

2 (D)

C (♭7)

1 (G)

F (♭3)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (E)

F (♭3)

3 (A)

C (♭7)

2 (D)

open

—

D (1)

1 (G)

A (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (E)

A (5)

3 (A)

D (1)

2 (D)

F (♭3)

1 (G)

C (♭7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (E)

C (♭7)

3 (A)

F (♭3)

2 (D)

1 (barre)

A (5)

1 (G)

1 (barre)

D (1)