BeginnerDominant 7th
D7 Chord
The D7 is a dominant 7th chord that sounds bluesy, tense, and yearning to resolve. Dominant 7th chords are the engine of blues and jazz. Their inherent tension wants to resolve, making them perfect for transitions and turnarounds.
Notes:DRoot (1)F#Major 3rd (3)APerfect 5th (5)CMinor 7th (b7)
Open Position
Chord Diagrams
Open Position
No barre required
How to Play D7
Follow these steps for the open position fingering:
| # | String | Instruction | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low E (6th string) | ✕Mute, do not play this string | – |
| 2 | A (5th string) | ✕Mute, do not play this string | – |
| 3 | D (4th string) | ○Open, play the open string | A |
| 4 | G (3rd string) | ●Fret 2 with your middle finger | C |
| 5 | B (2nd string) | ●Fret 1 with your index finger | D |
| 6 | High E (1st string) | ●Fret 2 with your ring finger | F# |
○ = Open string (no fingers needed)
✕ = Muted string (don't play)
● = Press your finger down firmly just behind the fret
Notes in D7
The D7 chord is built from 4 distinct notes, each serving a harmonic role:
D
Root (1)
The root, gives the chord its name
F#
Major 3rd (3)
The major third, creates the bright sound
A
Perfect 5th (5)
The fifth, adds power and stability
C
Minor 7th (b7)
Extended tone, adds richness and color
Read the deep-dive guide for D7
Other D Chords
Explore other chord types built on the same root note:
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