Dmaj7 chord on piano
The Dmaj7 chord, or D major 7th, stacks 4 notes on D: D, F♯, A and C♯. Musicians write its formula 1 3 5 7.
Notes and intervals of Dmaj7
Each note of Dmaj7 has a job. Counted from the root, you get root (D), major 3rd (F♯), perfect 5th (A) and major 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 | major 3rd | F♯ |
| 5 | perfect 5th | A |
| 7 | major 7th | C♯ |
How to play Dmaj7 on piano
Put your right-hand thumb on D, then add the other notes: D, F♯, A and C♯. Teachers usually suggest the fingering 1-2-3-5 (left hand: 5-3-2-1). Press the keys together, release, and repeat until the chord sounds even.
Inversions of Dmaj7
An inversion keeps the same notes but puts another one in the bass. Dmaj7 has 3 inversions besides root position: 1st inversion (F♯ A C♯ D), 2nd inversion (A C♯ D F♯) and 3rd inversion (C♯ D F♯ A). Inversions let you move between chords with tiny hand movements, which is how pianists make progressions sound smooth.
Which keys use Dmaj7?
Dmaj7 appears naturally in 2 major keys: D major (Imaj7) and A major (IVmaj7). In D major it is the Imaj7 chord, so you will meet it in many songs written in that key and in its relative minor.
Scales to play over Dmaj7
These scales share every note of Dmaj7: D major scale and D Lydian mode. D major scale is the safest choice; the others add more colour.
About major 7th chords
A major triad plus a major seventh: 1 3 5 7. The seventh sits a semitone below the octave, which gives a soft, floating, slightly bittersweet colour. The major seventh chord is relaxed rather than tense: it does not need to resolve and can sit for a whole verse. For example Cmaj7: C E G B.
It lives on I and IV of a major key (Imaj7, IVmaj7), so it is the home chord of jazz, bossa nova, soul, neo-soul and soft pop. Classic moves: ii7 V7 Imaj7 in jazz, Imaj7 IVmaj7 for dreamy loops, and in minor keys ♭IIImaj7 and ♭VImaj7, the I and IV of the relative major.
Root position (1 3 5 7) is lush, but avoid doubling the root above the seventh: the two notes a semitone apart clash. A classic split: left hand root and fifth, right hand 3, 5, 7 or 3, 7, 9. Rootless shapes such as 3 5 7 9 are standard in jazz when a bass player covers the root.
Confusing maj7 with 7 is the classic error: the dominant 7 has a minor seventh and pulls to resolve, maj7 does not. Watch the symbols: maj7, M7, Δ7 and Δ all mean the same chord, but 7 alone does not. And a major 7 on the V chord clashes with the melody: in a major key, V takes a plain 7.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Dmaj7 chord?
Dmaj7 (D major 7th) contains D, F♯, A and C♯. In intervals: root (D), major 3rd (F♯), perfect 5th (A) and major 7th (C♯).
How do you play Dmaj7 on piano?
Play D, F♯, A and C♯ together with the right-hand fingering 1-2-3-5. You can also play it in 3 inversions, shown on this page.
What scale goes with Dmaj7?
D major scale fits Dmaj7 best. Other scales that contain all its notes: D Lydian mode.
What key is Dmaj7 in?
Dmaj7 belongs to D major (Imaj7) and A major (IVmaj7). In D major it is the Imaj7 chord.
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