D dominant seventh chord (D7)
The D dominant seventh chord (D7) is a dominant seventh chord: a major triad with a minor seventh on top, D, F♯, A and C (root, major third, perfect fifth and minor seventh).
It is the V7 in G major and the V7 in G minor, and it wants to resolve to G major, a perfect fourth higher.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play D dominant seventh on guitar
There are 3 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: x-x-0-2-1-2, open position, with D in the bass (fingers x-x-0-2-1-3).
- Voicing 2: 10-12-10-11-10-10, movable E-shape barre chord at fret 10, with D in the bass.
- Voicing 3: x-5-7-5-7-5, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 5, with D in the bass.
Notes of the D dominant seventh chord on the fretboard
D dominant seventh has 4 notes: D, F♯, A and C. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): F♯ (2) · A (5) · C (8) · D (10)
- String 5 (A): A (0) · C (3) · D (5) · F♯ (9) · A (12)
- String 4 (D): D (0) · F♯ (4) · A (7) · C (10) · D (12)
- String 3 (G): A (2) · C (5) · D (7) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): C (1) · D (3) · F♯ (7) · A (10)
- String 1 (E): F♯ (2) · A (5) · C (8) · D (10)
Formula and intervals of D dominant seventh
Its formula is 1-3-5-♭7; in semitones from the root, 0-4-7-10.
- D: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- F♯: Major third (M3), 4 semitones above D
- A: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above D
- C: Minor seventh (m7), 10 semitones above D
D dominant seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 2-2-2-3, barre at fret 2; it sounds A, D, F♯ and C.
D dominant seventh on piano
- Keys: D4, F♯4, A4 and C5.
Inversions of D dominant seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: D, F♯, A and C, with D in the bass.
- First inversion (D7/F♯): F♯, A, C and D, with F♯ in the bass.
- Second inversion (D7/A): A, C, D and F♯, with A in the bass.
- Third inversion (D7/C): C, D, F♯ and A, with C in the bass.
Keys that use D dominant seventh
D dominant seventh appears in 3 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| G major (1 sharp) | V7 | Dominant |
| E minor (1 sharp) | VII7 | Subtonic |
| G minor (harmonic minor, 2 flats) | V7 | Dominant |
Progressions with D dominant seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in G major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): Am7 – D7 – Gmaj7
- 12-bar blues in G major (I7–IV7–V7): G7 – C7 – D7
- Minor cadence in G minor (i–iv–V7): Gm – Cm – D7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the D dominant seventh chord?
D, F♯, A and C: root, major third, perfect fifth and minor seventh. Its formula is 1-3-5-♭7.
Which keys use D dominant seventh?
Mainly as the V7 in G major and the V7 in G minor. In total it appears in 3 major and minor keys.
What chord does D dominant seventh resolve to?
As a dominant seventh, D dominant seventh (D, F♯, A and C) resolves naturally to G major: its third rises a half step to the new tonic and its seventh falls to the third of the next chord.