D major seventh chord (Dmaj7)
The D major seventh chord (Dmaj7) is a major seventh chord: a major triad with a major seventh on top, D, F♯, A and C♯ (root, major third, perfect fifth and major seventh).
It is the Imaj7 in D major and the IVmaj7 in A major; its relative is B minor seventh, and A dominant seventh leads into it as its V7.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play D major 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-0-2-2-2, barre at fret 2, with D in the bass (fingers x-x-0-1-1-1).
- Voicing 2: 10-12-11-11-10-10, movable E-shape barre chord at fret 10, with D in the bass.
- Voicing 3: x-5-7-6-7-5, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 5, with D in the bass.
Notes of the D major seventh chord on the fretboard
D major 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♯ (9) · D (10)
- String 5 (A): A (0) · C♯ (4) · D (5) · F♯ (9) · A (12)
- String 4 (D): D (0) · F♯ (4) · A (7) · C♯ (11) · D (12)
- String 3 (G): A (2) · C♯ (6) · D (7) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): C♯ (2) · D (3) · F♯ (7) · A (10)
- String 1 (E): F♯ (2) · A (5) · C♯ (9) · D (10)
Formula and intervals of D major seventh
Its formula is 1-3-5-7; in semitones from the root, 0-4-7-11.
- 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♯: Major seventh (M7), 11 semitones above D
D major seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 2-2-2-4, barre at fret 2; it sounds A, D, F♯ and C♯.
D major seventh on piano
- Keys: D4, F♯4, A4 and C♯5.
Inversions of D major seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: D, F♯, A and C♯, with D in the bass.
- First inversion (Dmaj7/F♯): F♯, A, C♯ and D, with F♯ in the bass.
- Second inversion (Dmaj7/A): A, C♯, D and F♯, with A in the bass.
- Third inversion (Dmaj7/C♯): C♯, D, F♯ and A, with C♯ in the bass.
Keys that use D major seventh
D major seventh appears in 4 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| D major (2 sharps) | Imaj7 | Tonic |
| A major (3 sharps) | IVmaj7 | Subdominant |
| B minor (2 sharps) | IIImaj7 | Mediant |
| F♯ minor (3 sharps) | VImaj7 | Submediant |
Progressions with D major seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in D major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): Em7 – A7 – Dmaj7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the D major seventh chord?
D, F♯, A and C♯: root, major third, perfect fifth and major seventh. Its formula is 1-3-5-7.
Which keys use D major seventh?
Mainly as the Imaj7 in D major and the IVmaj7 in A major. In total it appears in 4 major and minor keys.
What is the difference between D major seventh and a dominant seventh chord?
The seventh: in D major seventh (D, F♯, A and C♯) it is major, a half step below the octave, while in a dominant seventh it is minor. That is why D major seventh sounds stable, like a chord of rest, and a dominant seventh wants to resolve.