Learn to play the D7 guitar chord

Expanding your toolbox of guitar chords is a great way to add some nuance to your playing, especially when you’re looking to learn new songs on the guitar. Dominant seventh chords (or simply 7th chords) are a great addition to any guitarist’s repertoire.

In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the D7 guitar chord. It is a versatile chord that can add a bluesy touch to your music. If you’re looking to learn new chords outside of the basic beginner chords, D7 is a great place to start.

Playing the open D7 guitar chord

If you’re comfortable with basic open chords, the D7 is a smooth transition into the world of seventh chords. The D7 introduces you to the flavor of dominant sevenths without requiring any barre technique or complex chord shapes that make your fingers hurt.

The open D7 chord shape looks like this:

• 4th string (D): Let this string ring open (D).
• 3rd string (G): Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret (A).
• 2nd string (B): Place your index finger on the 1st fret (C).
• 1st string (high E): Place your ring finger on the 2nd fret (F♯).

For the open D7 chord, do not play the low E and A strings. Instead, focus on strumming the D, G, B, and high E strings for a clean sound. The two lowest strings will add unwanted notes to the chord if you strum them.

If you’re familiar with the basic D major chord shape, you might notice that D7 is not all that different – the B string is played on the first fret instead of the third. Just remember that you have to switch which finger frets each string when changing between D7 and D.

Here’s the D7 chord shape in guitar tab format:

e |--2--  (F♯)
B |--1--  (C)
G |--2--  (A)
D |--0--  (D)
A |------
E |------

Practice this shape slowly at first. Over time, your fingers will adapt, and the transition between chords will be smoother.

What are the notes in the D dominant seventh chord?

Besides knowing how to play D7 on the guitar, it’s also helpful to understand the notes that make it up.

A seventh chord is formed by adding an extra note—a seventh interval—to a basic 3-note chord (triad). In the case of a dominant seventh chord, you start with a major triad (root, major third, and perfect fifth) and add a minor seventh.

For the D7 chord, the notes are as follows:

• D – root
• F♯ – major third
• A – perfect fifth
• C – minor seventh

This chord creates tension that needs resolution, making dominant seventh chords a staple in blues, rock, country, and jazz chord progressions.

D7 barre chord variation

Once you’re comfortable with the open D7, you might want to explore a barre chord version. Barre chord shapes are useful in many musical styles because you can keep the same fingering and move to a different position on the fretboard to play another chord. Knowing how to play barre chords is especially useful when changing keys quickly.

Here’s one popular barre variation of the D7 guitar chord:

• Low E string: Mute or do not play.
• A string: Barre the 5th fret with your index finger for the root note (D).
• D string: Use your ring finger to fret the 7th fret (A, the perfect fifth).
• G string: Let your index finger barre the 5th fret, which produces the minor seventh (C).
• B string: Place your pinky on the 7th fret (F♯, the major third).
• High E string: The barre on the 5th fret gives you another A (the perfect fifth).

Strum only the strings from the A string downward to ensure every note rings out clearly.

This barre chord is fully movable, and you can shift it up or down the neck to create other dominant seventh chords. For instance, if you move your hand so that your index finger bars the 3rd fret, you get the C7 barre chord. You can also move up to the 8th fret for F7.

Tips to master the D7 guitar chord

Learning a new chord shape can be tricky, and D7 is no exception. Whether you’re working on the open D7 or the barre chord variation, here are some tips to help you on your guitar journey:

• Improve strumming accuracy: For the open-position D7, do not play the low E and A strings, as they don’t belong in this chord shape. If you need to, lightly rest your thumb on the low E string to mute it or use your ring finger to stop the A string from ringing. For the barre version, focus on strumming only the fretted strings while avoiding low E.

• Practice chord transitions: Smoothly transitioning to and from the D7 chord takes time. Start with slow, deliberate chord changes before increasing your speed. Use anchor fingers (fingers that stay in place when switching chords) to minimize hand movement and make changes more efficient.

• Avoid fret buzz and accidental muting: Ensure your fingers press just behind the fret, not directly on it, to get a clean tone and avoid fret buzz. Furthermore, make sure your finger positioning is correct and that you’re not muting the wrong strings. Arch your fingers so you’re pressing with your fingertips.

• Master barre chords: If barring the chord feels difficult, make sure your index finger is flat and straight across the fretboard to evenly press down all the necessary strings. If your barre isn’t strong enough, roll your index finger slightly onto its side to press more firmly. Play each string in the chord one by one to ensure they all sound clean.

Songs with the D7 guitar chord

Learning the D7 chord can be especially rewarding when you use it in some of your favorite songs. Here are some tracks where the D7 chord plays a key role:

• “Stuck In The Middle With You Chords”, made famous by Stealers Wheel
• “Crossroads”, made famous by Cream
• “Margaritaville”, made famous by Jimmy Buffett
• “Amazing Grace” (traditional)

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