- D7
- G
D7 Guitar Chord
Everything about the D Dominant 7 chord: How to play it, what it's built from, the chords it pairs with, and examples of pros using it in real performances.
NotesD • F♯ • A • C
Difficulty
Hard
Open-position D7 shape
What is the D7 chord?
D7, or D Dominant 7, is a four-note chord built from a D major triad (D, F#, A) plus a minor seventh (C), creating a bright yet bluesy, slightly unresolved character that begs to move forward. This chord has a classic swagger—confident and edgy at once—and appears everywhere from blues and rock to funk, soul, and jazz. The most common voicing is the open-position D7 chord, an easy and accessible shape near the nut that produces a bright, clear sound and works well in blues, folk, rock, and country.
Notes & Intervals
D7 is spelled D (1) · F# (M3) · A (P5) · C (m7). The minor seventh—that flat-seven note C—is what gives the dominant 7 its bluesy, unresolved tension and its signature pull toward resolution.
Where It Lives
D7 appears as the V chord in the key of G major, and as a secondary dominant in countless other keys. It's a staple in blues, rock, funk, and jazz, where its tension naturally pulls toward resolution and drives harmonic motion forward.
D7 vs. Dmaj7
Dmaj7 replaces the C with C#, turning the m7 into a M7. That single note swap transforms D7's restless, bluesy edge into Dmaj7's bright, settled major-seventh warmth—a completely different emotional landing.
Mood & Character
D7 carries a gritty, bluesy swagger—restless and forward-leaning, never quite settled. Reach for it when you need tension, attitude, or a moment that demands resolution; it's the chord that makes listeners lean in.
Voicings for D7
Four ways to play it using the same four notes. Pick a voicing below to hear it on the fretboard.
- NotesD • A • C • F♯DifficultyHard
Open-position D7 shape
Progressions that use D7
Hear how the chord works in context of songs.
Learn to play D7 from the experts
Handpicked lessons from TrueFire courses that lean on this chord.
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Frequently asked questions for D7
D7 is built from four notes: D (the root), F# (the major third), A (the perfect fifth), and C (the minor seventh). These four tones stack to create that bright-yet-bluesy character. The minor seventh (C) is what makes it a dominant 7 instead of a major 7.
The most common voicing is the open-position D7 chord: play the open D string, place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the G string, your index finger on the 1st fret of the B string, and your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the high E string. Mute the low E and A strings. It is a compact, beginner-friendly shape with a bright, bluesy sound.
The only difference is one note: Dmaj7 has a major seventh (C#), while D7 has a minor seventh (C). That single semitone shift changes the whole feel—Dmaj7 is bright and open, while D7 is edgier and more bluesy. In a progression, D7 wants to resolve (especially to G), whereas Dmaj7 sits comfortably as a home chord.
In music theory, the dominant chord is built on the fifth scale degree and naturally pulls toward resolution to the tonic (home) chord. D7 is the dominant of G major, so it creates tension that resolves beautifully when you move to G. You'll hear this pull constantly in blues, rock, and jazz—it's one of the most powerful harmonic moves in music.
D7 is everywhere in blues (especially 12-bar blues progressions), classic rock, funk, and jazz. It's the backbone of countless rock riffs and the go-to chord for blues solos. If you're learning to play blues guitar, mastering D7 is essential because it appears in so many iconic songs and jam patterns.