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D7 Guitar Chord

D7 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/2
Chord shapes:(2 positions)
D7Guitar fingering diagram for D71234××213STRING6ª×5ª×4ªD3ªA2ªC1ªF#
View HD sheet

What sets D7 apart

Play D7 one string at a time and you hear D, F#, A and C. D is the root, F# the major third, A the fifth and C the minor seventh. Said aloud, its notes are D, F sharp, A and C.

From the low string to the high one you hear D, A, C and F#. The lowest note is D on string 4 and the highest is F# on string 1.

In D7, string 4 is played open and adds D. Strings 6 and 5 are not played. Everything fits between frets 1 and 2. The second shape on this page starts at fret 5.

D is one change away. String 2 moves from fret 1 to fret 3, bringing in D, the root of D. It shares two notes with Bm, D and F#. Going to F, two positions stay the same.

You will find D7 in two different keys. In G major it is the V7 and in G minor the V7.

Chord Progressions

Harmonic circles featuring the D7 chord:

01G G - Em - Am - D702Gm Gm - Eb - Cm - D7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (D7)

Formula: Dominant Seventh (1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7)
Constituent chord intervals:

D 1F# 3A 5C ♭7

Root Bass (Fundamental String)4th String (D) • Fret 0 (D)

String Control (Muted & Active)4 / 6 • 2 X Muted

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for D7:

01

Standard

Standard Position
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 4th String (D)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
5th String (A)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
4th String (D)
○Open
DDegree 1
3rd String (G)
Fret 2Finger 2
ADegree 5
2nd String (B)
Fret 1Finger 1
CDegree ♭7
1st String (High E)
Fret 2Finger 3
F#Degree 3

Placement tip: Press: 3rd String (G) at fret 2 with your Middle finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 2 with your Ring finger. Play open: 4th String (D). Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 5th String (A).

02

Barre 5

Barre fret 5
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 5Barre
DDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 7
ADegree 5
3rd String (G)
Fret 5Barre
CDegree ♭7
2nd String (B)
Fret 7
F#Degree 3
1st String (High E)
Fret 5Barre
ADegree 5

Placement tip: Barre fret 5. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 7, 2nd String (B) at fret 7. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (D7)

Standard Position
Key Principle:

Finger 1 on string 2 fret 1, finger 2 on string 3 fret 2, and finger 3 on string 1 fret 2. Strum down from open string 4.

Thumb Placement: Resting over the top edge to gently mute the 6th string.

Most Common Beginner Mistake:

Accidentally playing the low E or A strings, or allowing finger 2 to collapse into string 2 fret 1.

Immediate Solution: Plant finger 1 on string 2 fret 1 first as a visual anchor, then drop fingers 2 and 3 onto fret 2 in unison.

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets1 to 2
Fretting fingers3
Open4th
Muted6th and 5th

What to check

The open 4th string sits next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from D7

Listen: D7 → F · C · Am

  1. D7
  2. F
  3. D7
  4. C
  5. D7
  6. Am
D7 → F01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 shared positions
Stay in place
  • string 3, fret 2
  • string 2, fret 1
Move
  • string 6, fret 1
  • string 5, fret 3
  • string 4, fret 3
  • string 1, fret 1
D7 → C02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1
Move
  • finger 3: string 5, fret 3
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
D7 → Am03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1
Move
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
  • finger 3: string 3, fret 2

D7 in every key

D7 sits in the scale of 2 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
2/5
Highest fret
2
Frets the hand covers
2
Barre
No
Strings that ring
4/6
Fretting fingers
3

Major keys

Minor keys

D7 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.UkuleleD7 on four strings, with sound.BassD7 as a low-register arpeggio.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (D7)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the D7 chord?

To play the D7 chord on guitar, only 4 strings are played, from string 4 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the D7 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the D7 chord is its root note: D. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 4 at fret 0.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the D7 chord and what is its formula?

The D7 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 formula (Dominant Seventh). Its constituent pitches are D, F#, A, C.

How do you prevent the D7 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the D7 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official D7 chord diagram

D7 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheetView circle (G)→

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Other chords in the D family:

Chord D Chord Db Chord Dm Chord Db7 Chord Dmaj7 Chord Dbmaj7 Chord Dm7 Chord Dsus2