Explore chords · Ukulele
D 7th chord on ukulele (D7)
Also called or written D7, D, D Dominant 7th or D Major Minor 7th
D 7th contains D, F♯, A, and C. The 7th fret shape stretches all four fingers across four frets, so it is not a beginner chord.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionD–F♯–A–CD72-2-2-3
- First inversionF♯–A–C–DD7/F♯5-6-5-5
- Second inversionA–C–D–F♯D7/A7-9-8-9
- Third inversionC–D–F♯–AD7/C11-12-10-12
How do you play a D 7th chord on ukulele?
D 7th is played at the 7th fret as 7 9 8 9: index finger on the G string at fret 7, ring finger on the C string at fret 9, middle finger on the E string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 1 | D (1) |
| 3 (C) | 9 | 3 | A (5) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 4 | F♯ (3) |
AdvancedThe 7th fret shape requires a wide stretch from the index on the 4th string to the pinky on the 1st string, spanning four frets.
D7/C inversion
D 7th is played at the 10th fret as 11 12 10 12: middle finger on the G string at fret 11, ring finger on the C string at fret 12, index finger on the E string at fret 10 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 11 | 2 | F♯ (3) |
| 3 (C) | 12 | 3 | C (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 1 | D (1) |
| 1 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (5) |
2nd fret
D 7th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 2 2 3: barre your index finger across fret 2 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (♭7) |
D7/F♯ inversion
D 7th is played at the 5th fret as 5 6 5 5: index finger on the G string at fret 5, pinky finger on the C string at fret 6, middle finger on the E string at fret 5 and ring finger on the A string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 1 | C (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 4 | F♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 2 | A (5) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 3 | D (1) |
Why it sounds like that
D 7th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7 on the root D. The ♭7, C, gives the chord its dominant quality. Compare it with D major, which stops at the major third and fifth.
What goes wrong with D 7th?
- Letting the pinky flatten and mute the 1st string.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the 2nd string, muffling the A.
- Pressing the index too hard so the 4th string buzzes.
When to use it
D 7th is the V chord in G major, resolving to G major in the I–IV–V–I progression G–C–D–G. It also appears in the I–V–vi–IV progression G–D–Em–C. Use D 7th for blues, rock, and folk tunes that need a dominant pull.
Changing to and from D 7th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 6th fret gives C♯ 7th.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 8th fret gives E♭ 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 7th fret shape has D in the bass and is the root position. The D7/C inversion at the 5th fret puts C in the bass and is easier to grab quickly. The D7/A inversion at the 2nd fret has A in the bass and uses a barre.
Other D chords
Common questions
How is D 7th written?
D 7th is written as D7. The symbols D and D7 both refer to this chord. It is also called Dominant 7th or Major Minor 7th.
What is the difference between D 7th and D major?
D major contains D, F♯, and A. D 7th adds the ♭7, C, which creates tension that resolves to G major.
Can I play D 7th with open strings?
No, D 7th has no open-string voicing. The easiest shape is the D7/C inversion at the 5th fret.