D7 chord
Restless and bluesy. The flattened 7th creates tension that wants to resolve, which is why it drives blues and turnarounds.
D dominant 7th · 3 voicings
Notes in D7
How to Play D7
Open position
x x 0 2 1 2
Barre, E7 shape
10 12 10 11 10 10
Barre, A7 shape
x 5 7 5 7 5
Numbers under each diagram are frets, string 6 (thickest) to string 1. x means don't play that string; 0 means play it open.
Where D7 Is Used
D7 occurs naturally in one major key. Its roman numeral tells you the job it does in each — the same chord feels like home in one key and like tension in another.
| Key | Degree | Role |
|---|---|---|
| G major | V | Dominant — pulls back to the tonic |
Progressions featuring D7
- ii – V – I — the central cadence in jazz
- V – I — the strongest resolution in tonal music
Playing tips for D7
D7 has an open-position shape, which means some strings ring open and it is playable without barring. Press just behind the fret rather than on top of it, keep your fingertips arched so they do not deaden neighbouring strings, and strum only the strings the diagram marks as played.
If a string buzzes or sounds dead, the usual causes are a fingertip leaning against it, not quite enough pressure, or a finger too far behind the fret. Play each string one at a time to find which one is failing before adjusting the whole shape — and make sure your guitar is in tune first, since an out-of-tune string will make a correct shape sound wrong. Use our free online tuner to check.
Related Chords
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