Dm7 chord on guitar
The Dm7 chord, or D minor 7th, stacks 4 notes on D: D, F, A and C. Musicians write its formula 1 ♭3 5 ♭7.
Notes and intervals of Dm7
Each note of Dm7 has a job. Counted from the root, you get root (D), minor 3rd (F), perfect 5th (A) and minor 7th (C). Change one of these intervals and you get a different chord, which is why the formula 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 is worth memorising rather than the shape alone.
| Degree | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | root | D |
| ♭3 | minor 3rd | F |
| 5 | perfect 5th | A |
| ♭7 | minor 7th | C |
How to play Dm7 on guitar
Start with the first diagram: x x 0 2 1 1, read from the 6th string (low E) to the 1st string (high E). Your lowest note is D. The next positions give the same notes in a different order, which is useful when you want Dm7 to sit closer to the surrounding chords.
Let the open strings ring: strum slowly once and check that every note sounds clean before you speed up.
Which keys use Dm7?
Dm7 appears naturally in 3 major keys: F major (vi7), C major (ii7) and B flat major (iii7). In F major it is the vi7 chord, so you will meet it in many songs written in that key and in its relative minor.
Scales to play over Dm7
These scales share every note of Dm7: D natural minor scale, D minor pentatonic scale, D blues scale, D Dorian mode and D Phrygian mode. D natural minor scale is the safest choice; the others add more colour.
About minor 7th chords
A minor triad plus a minor seventh: 1 ♭3 5 ♭7. Softer and more open than a plain minor chord, the minor seventh is mellow, slightly melancholic and has no urge to resolve. It contains a major triad on its ♭3, which is why it sounds warm rather than dark. For example Am7: A C E G, with C E G inside.
It sits naturally on ii, iii and vi of a major key, and on i, iv and v of the natural minor. Its star role is the ii7 of the ii-V-I: ii7 V7 Imaj7 (for example Dm7 G7 Cmaj7). Funk and soul vamp on one m7 for minutes, and pop uses vi7 and ii7 to soften plain triads.
Start with open Am7 (x02010), Em7 (022030 or 020000) and Dm7 (xx0211). Then learn the E-shape m7 barre (root on the 6th string) and the A-shape m7 barre (root on the 5th string): both are a minor barre with the octave replaced by the ♭7. Funk players love three or four-note versions on the top strings with short, muted strums.
m7 is not m(maj7): Am7 has G, Am(maj7) has G♯. Do not confuse it with m7♭5 either: lower the fifth and you get a half-diminished chord with a much tenser role. Finally, a m7 chord has the same four notes as the 6 chord on its ♭3 (Am7 and C6): the bass note decides which one you hear.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Dm7 chord?
Dm7 (D minor 7th) contains D, F, A and C. In intervals: root (D), minor 3rd (F), perfect 5th (A) and minor 7th (C).
How do you play Dm7 on guitar?
The easiest shape is x x 0 2 1 1, from the low E string to the high E string. This page shows 3 positions with finger numbers.
What scale goes with Dm7?
D natural minor scale fits Dm7 best. Other scales that contain all its notes: D minor pentatonic scale, D blues scale, D Dorian mode and D Phrygian mode.
What key is Dm7 in?
Dm7 belongs to F major (vi7), C major (ii7) and B flat major (iii7). In F major it is the vi7 chord.
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