Dm7 chord
Dm7 is D, F, A and C: 1–♭3–5–♭7 built on D. Below: guitar, piano and ukulele, each playable.
On guitar
x-x-0-2-1-1 · open · easy
- Notes
- D · F · A · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7
- First shape
- x-x-0-2-1-1
Dm7 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · D–F–A–C · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- D · F · A · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7
Dm7 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
2-2-1-3 · movable · medium
- Notes
- D · F · A · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7
- First shape
- 2-2-1-3
Changing out of Dm7
The moves below are the ones you'll meet most, shown for guitar and piano.
- Dm7 → G7 (V in C major)
Guitar: Dm7 (x-x-0-2-1-1) to G7 (3-2-0-0-0-1): the index finger slides across to the high E string at the same fret, the middle finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the low E string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared notes: D and F.
Piano: Dm7 to G7: play G7 in 2nd inversion (D–F–G–B) and D and F stay under the same fingers, while A moves down to G and C down to B. G7 - Dm7 → Fmaj7 (IV in C major)
Guitar: Dm7 (x-x-0-2-1-1) to Fmaj7 (x-x-3-2-1-0): your index finger stays put, move the middle finger to the G string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the D string, 3rd fret. F, A and C carry over from one chord to the other.
Piano: Dm7 to Fmaj7: play Fmaj7 in 3rd inversion (E–F–A–C) and F, A and C stay under the same fingers, while D moves up to E. Fmaj7 - Dm7 → Cmaj7 (I in C major)
Guitar: Dm7 (x-x-0-2-1-1) to Cmaj7 (x-3-2-0-0-0): the index finger goes to the D string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the A string, 3rd fret. Shared note: C.
Piano: Dm7 to Cmaj7: play Cmaj7 in 1st inversion (E–G–B–C) and C stays under the same finger, while D moves up to E, F up to G and A up to B. Cmaj7
Guitar with a capo: capo 3, Bm7 shape; capo 5, Am7 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 3, Bm7 shape; capo 5, Am7 shape.
How Dm7 is built
Dm7 is a minor seventh chord: a minor triad plus a minor seventh. It is mellow rather than sad, and slides easily into other chords, which is why funk, R&B and jazz lean on it.
Start on D, count 3 half steps up to F, 4 half steps up to A then 3 half steps up to C.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | root | 0 | |
| F | minor third | 3 | |
| A | perfect fifth | 7 | |
| C | minor seventh | 10 |
Keys and progressions with Dm7
In major keys, Dm7 is ii7 in C major, iii7 in B♭ major and vi7 in F major. In minor keys it is i7 in D minor, iv7 in A minor and v7 in G minor.
Play ii–V–I in C major and you get Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7. the jazz cadence
Chords close to Dm7
- Dm7 is Dm plus C. Dm
Chords that share most of their notes with Dm7: F6, Dm, F, D7, Dm6, Dm7♭5.
Every D chord
Dm7 chord: questions
What notes are in the Dm7 chord?
D, F, A and C. Dm7 is built 1–♭3–5–♭7 from D: F is the minor third, A is the perfect fifth and C is the minor seventh.
How do you play Dm7 on guitar?
The usual shape is x-x-0-2-1-1 (open). All 3 guitar shapes.
How do you play Dm7 on piano?
Play D, F, A and C with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. D sits between the two black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Dm7 on ukulele?
2-2-1-3 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Dm7 in?
In major keys, Dm7 is ii7 in C major, iii7 in B♭ major and vi7 in F major. In minor keys it is i7 in D minor, iv7 in A minor and v7 in G minor.
What's the difference between Dm7 and Dm?
Dm7 is Dm plus C.
Diagrams and sound come from the same data, tested so they match. Updated September 2026.