D minor seventh chord (Dm7)
The D minor seventh chord (Dm7) is a minor seventh chord: a minor triad with a minor seventh on top, D, F, A and C (root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh).
It is the ii7 in C major and the vi7 in F major; its relative is F major 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 minor 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-0-2-1-1, barre at fret 1, with D in the bass (fingers x-x-0-2-1-1).
- Voicing 2: 10-12-10-10-10-10, movable E-shape barre chord at fret 10, with D in the bass.
- Voicing 3: x-5-7-5-6-5, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 5, with D in the bass.
Notes of the D minor seventh chord on the fretboard
D minor 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 (1) · A (5) · C (8) · D (10)
- String 5 (A): A (0) · C (3) · D (5) · F (8) · A (12)
- String 4 (D): D (0) · F (3) · A (7) · C (10) · D (12)
- String 3 (G): A (2) · C (5) · D (7) · F (10)
- String 2 (B): C (1) · D (3) · F (6) · A (10)
- String 1 (E): F (1) · A (5) · C (8) · D (10)
Formula and intervals of D minor seventh
Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7; in semitones from the root, 0-3-7-10.
- D: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- F: Minor third (m3), 3 semitones above D
- A: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above D
- C: Minor seventh (m7), 10 semitones above D
D minor seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 2-2-1-3; it sounds A, D, F and C.
D minor seventh on piano
- Keys: D4, F4, A4 and C5.
Inversions of D minor seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: D, F, A and C, with D in the bass.
- First inversion (Dm7/F): F, A, C and D, with F in the bass.
- Second inversion (Dm7/A): A, C, D and F, with A in the bass.
- Third inversion (Dm7/C): C, D, F and A, with C in the bass.
Keys that use D minor seventh
D minor seventh appears in 6 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| C major (no sharps or flats) | ii7 | Supertonic |
| B♭ major (2 flats) | iii7 | Mediant |
| F major (1 flat) | vi7 | Submediant |
| D minor (1 flat) | i7 | Tonic |
| A minor (no sharps or flats) | iv7 | Subdominant |
| G minor (2 flats) | v7 | Dominant |
Progressions with D minor seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in C major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the D minor seventh chord?
D, F, A and C: root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh. Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7.
Which keys use D minor seventh?
Mainly as the ii7 in C major and the vi7 in F major. In total it appears in 6 major and minor keys.
What is the relative of D minor seventh?
F major seventh: they share three of their four notes. In the key where F major seventh is Imaj7, D minor seventh is vi7; in a major key, the minor seventh chords are ii7, iii7 and vi7.