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D 7th chord on guitar (D7)
Also called or written D7, D, D Dominant 7th or D Major Minor 7th
D 7th contains D, F♯, A, and C. The open shape uses three fretted notes and two muted strings, keeping the root on the open D string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionD–F♯–A–CD7×-×-0-2-1-2
- First inversionF♯–A–C–DD7/F♯2-0-0-2-1-2
- Second inversionA–C–D–F♯D7/A×-0-0-2-1-2
- Third inversionC–D–F♯–AD7/C×-3-0-2-1-2
How do you play a D 7th chord on guitar?
D 7th is played in open position as × × 0 2 1 2: middle finger on the G string at fret 2, index finger on the B string at fret 1 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 2. The D string rings open. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 3 | F♯ (3) |
AdvancedThe open shape requires muting two strings while fretting three, which is awkward for beginners.
5th fret
D 7th is played at the 5th fret as × 5 7 5 7 5: barre your index finger across fret 5, ring finger on the D string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 7. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 5 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 4 (D) | 7 | 3 | A (5) |
| 3 (G) | 5 | 1 (barre) | C (♭7) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 4 | F♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
10th fret
D 7th is played at the 10th fret as 10 12 10 11 10 10: barre your index finger across fret 10, pinky finger on the A string at fret 12 and ring finger on the G string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 5 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 1 (barre) | C (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 3 | F♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
| 1 (e) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
12th fret
D 7th is played at the 12th fret as × × 12 14 13 14: index finger on the D string at fret 12, ring finger on the G string at fret 14, middle finger on the B string at fret 13 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 14. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 12 | 1 | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 14 | 3 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | 13 | 2 | C (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 14 | 4 | F♯ (3) |
D7/F♯ inversion
D 7th is played in open position as 2 0 0 2 1 2: middle finger on the low E string at fret 2, ring finger on the G string at fret 2, index finger on the B string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 2. The A and D strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 3 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 4 | F♯ (3) |
Why it sounds like that
D 7th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7, adding a minor seventh to the D major triad. The ♭7 creates the dominant pull that defines the chord. Compare it with D major, which stops at the major third and fifth.
What goes wrong with D 7th?
- Letting the A string ring, which adds an unintended bass note below the root.
- Letting the low E string ring, which adds a non-chord tone.
- Touching the open D string with the fretting hand, muting it.
When to use it
D 7th is the V chord in G major, appearing in progressions like G–C–D–G (I–IV–V–I). It suits blues, country, and rock. Resolve it to G major.
Changing to and from D 7th
- Move to G major by lifting the ring finger and placing the index on the low E string, 3rd fret, while keeping the other fingers.
- Slide the shape up two frets to the 5th fret to play E 7th.
Which voicing to use
The open position is the easiest and keeps the root on the D string. The 5th fret barre shape adds the A string for a fuller sound. The D7/F♯ inversion puts F♯ in the bass for a lighter, first-inversion feel.
Other D chords
Common questions
Why are both low strings muted in D 7th?
The low E is not a chord tone, and the A string is muted to preserve the D bass note. Both mutes keep the voicing clean.
How does D 7th differ from D major?
D 7th adds a C note, the minor seventh, to the D major triad. That note gives the chord its dominant tension.
Can I play D 7th as a barre chord?
Yes, the 5th fret barre shape is a moveable voicing with the root on the A string. It is useful for higher positions.