Explore chords · Ukulele
D minor 7th chord on ukulele (Dm7)
Also called or written Dm7 or Dmin7
D minor 7th contains D, F, A, and C. The 7th-fret grip stretches the pinky to the 9th fret while the other fingers hold the 8th fret.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionD–F–A–CDm72-2-1-3
- First inversionF–A–C–DDm7/F5-5-5-5
- Second inversionA–C–D–FDm7/A7-9-8-8
- Third inversionC–D–F–ADm7/C10-12-10-12
How do you play a D minor 7th chord on ukulele?
D minor 7th is played at the 7th fret as 7 9 8 8: index finger on the G string at fret 7, pinky finger on the C string at fret 9, middle finger on the E string at fret 8 and ring finger on the A string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 1 | D (1) |
| 3 (C) | 9 | 4 | A (5) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 3 | F (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must stretch to the 9th fret on the C string while the middle and ring fingers hold the 8th fret, risking a muted E string.
Dm7/C inversion
D minor 7th is played at the 10th fret as 10 12 10 12: index finger on the G string at fret 10, ring finger on the C string at fret 12, middle 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) | 10 | 1 | F (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 12 | 3 | C (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 2 | D (1) |
| 1 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (5) |
1st fret
D minor 7th is played at the 1st fret as 2 2 1 3: middle finger on the G string at fret 2, ring finger on the C string at fret 2, index finger on the E string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (5) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 3 | D (1) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (♭7) |
Dm7/F inversion
D minor 7th is played at the 5th fret as 5 5 5 5: barre your index finger across fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 1 (barre) | C (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 1 (barre) | F (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
Why it sounds like that
D minor 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7. The minor 3rd between D and F gives the chord its minor quality, and the minor 7th C adds a mellow tension. Compare it to D minor, which omits the 7th.
What goes wrong with D minor 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse onto the E string, muting it.
- Pressing the index finger too flat, which can buzz the G string.
- Rushing the stretch so the C string note sounds sharp.
When to use it
D minor 7th works as the vi chord in F major, appearing in the progression F major–C major–D minor–B♭ major (I–V–vi–IV). It suits folk and singer-songwriter styles. Try it with D minor and F major.
Changing to and from D minor 7th
- Move to E♭ minor 7th by sliding the shape up one fret to the 8th fret.
- From D minor 7th, slide down two frets to the 5th fret for C minor 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 7th-fret voicing keeps D in the bass for a grounded sound. The Dm7/F inversion at the 10th fret puts F in the bass, softening the chord. For a brighter top, use the Dm7/A inversion at the 2nd fret.
Other D chords
Common questions
How is D minor 7th written?
D minor 7th is written Dmin7 or Dm7.
Why does the 7th-fret voicing feel so stretched?
The stretch comes from the pinky reaching the 9th fret on the C string while the other fingers stay near the 7th and 8th frets. Practicing the shape slowly helps the hand adapt.
How does D minor 7th differ from D minor?
D minor 7th adds the note C, a minor 7th above the root. This extra note creates a softer, more complex sound than the plain triad.