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D major 7th chord on ukulele (Dmaj7)
Also called or written Dmaj7 or DM7
D major 7th is built from D, F♯, A, and C♯. This 7th-fret grip is a wide stretch, and the Dmaj7/A inversion requires a barre across the 2nd fret.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 7
How do you play a D major 7th chord on ukulele?
D major 7th is played at the 7th fret as 7 9 9 9: index finger on the G string at fret 7, middle finger on the C string at fret 9, ring finger on the E string at fret 9 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 | 2 | A (5) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 3 | C♯ (7) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 4 | F♯ (3) |
AdvancedThe index finger at fret 7 and pinky at fret 9 force a wide stretch, and the three fingers on fret 9 must fit without muting each other.
2nd fret
D major 7th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 2 2 4: barre your index finger across fret 2 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 4.
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) | 4 | 4 | C♯ (7) |
Dmaj7/F♯ inversion
D major 7th is played at the 5th fret as 6 6 5 5: ring finger on the G string at fret 6, pinky finger on the C string at fret 6, index finger on the E string at fret 5 and middle finger on the A string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 3 | C♯ (7) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 4 | F♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 1 | A (5) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 2 | D (1) |
Why it sounds like that
D major 7th stacks a major 3rd, perfect 5th, and major 7th above D. The major 7th interval is what separates it from D major, which stops at the perfect 5th.
What goes wrong with D major 7th?
- The ring finger touches the A string, muting the pinky's note.
- The index finger presses too far from the fret, making the G string buzz.
- The middle finger leans on the E string, dulling its sound.
When to use it
D major 7th works as the I chord in D major, such as D–G–A–D (I–IV–V–I). It also fits the I–V–vi–IV progression D–A–B minor–G. Use it for country, folk, or pop tunes that need a bright, ringing major color.
Changing to and from D major 7th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 5th fret gives C major 7th.
- From D major, lift the pinky and add the middle and ring fingers on fret 9 for D major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 7th fret voicing puts D in the bass for a root-position sound. The Dmaj7/A inversion at frets 2-2-2-4 places the 5th in the bass, giving a lighter, more open feel.
Other D chords
Common questions
Why does my D major 7th buzz on the G string?
The index finger may be too far from the fret or not pressing firmly enough. Place it just behind the 7th fret and use the fingertip, not the pad.
Is the Dmaj7/A inversion easier to play?
Yes, it uses a barre at fret 2 and one fretted note on the A string at fret 4. However, it has A in the bass, so it sounds less grounded than the root position.
Can I use D major 7th in place of D major?
Yes, but the added major 7th (C♯) creates a more complex, jazzy color. Use it when you want a softer, more reflective sound than the plain major triad.