Dm7 chord on guitar

Dm7 is D, F, A and C. The easiest shape is x-x-0-2-1-1. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.

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

How to play Dm7 on guitar

Shape 1, x-x-0-2-1-1, reading from the low E string on the left:

Put your index finger on the B string at the 1st fret, which is C.
Put your middle finger on the high E string at the 1st fret, which is F.
Put your ring finger on the G string at the 2nd fret, which is A.
The open D string adds D; don't touch it.
Skip the low E and A strings and begin the strum from the D string.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.
Aim the strum at the thinner strings only; the lower ones are marked × for a reason.

Other ways to play Dm7

10-12-10-10-10-10: barre shape at the 10th fret, medium. Root on the 6th string: move it up or down and it names a different minor seventh chord.
x-5-7-5-6-5: barre shape at the 5th fret, medium. The root is on the A string; it's the Am7 shape moved up the neck.

Dm7 the capo way

With a capo you can skip the harder shapes: capo on the 3rd fret and play the open Bm7 shape (x-2-0-2-0-2) or capo on the 5th fret and play the open Am7 shape (x-0-2-0-1-0). Everything above the capo is fingered exactly like the open chord.

Changing from Dm7 to the chords around it

Songs rarely hold Dm7 for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

G7 (V in C major): 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. G7 on guitar
Fmaj7 (IV in C major): 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. Fmaj7 on guitar
Cmaj7 (I in C major): 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. Cmaj7 on guitar

Dm7 is a minor seventh chord: a minor triad plus a minor seventh. Dm7 is the easy-going minor, common as the ii chord right before a dominant seventh. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

Getting Dm7 under your fingers

Before strumming, play x-x-0-2-1-1 note by note: D then A then C then F. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Then switch to 10-12-10-10-10-10 and back four times without looking at your hand.

Dm7 in context

In C major, ii–V–I on guitar is Dm7 (x-x-0-2-1-1), G7 (3-2-0-0-0-1) and Cmaj7 (x-3-2-0-0-0). About the jazz cadence.

Dm7 on piano and ukulele

The same notes on another instrument: Dm7 on piano and Dm7 on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.

Next to try on guitar

Other minor seventh chords

Dm7 on guitar: questions

What notes are in Dm7 on guitar?

D, F, A and C. In the x-x-0-2-1-1 shape the strings play D (D string, open), A (G string), C (B string) and F (high E string).

What's the easiest way to play Dm7 on guitar?

x-x-0-2-1-1, shape 1 above. It uses open strings, so there is no barre to press.

Is Dm7 a barre chord on guitar?

Not the usual shape: x-x-0-2-1-1 needs no barre. There are barre versions further up the neck, shown below it.

Which string does Dm7 start on?

In the x-x-0-2-1-1 shape the lowest string you play is the D string, open, which is D, the root. Skip the low E and A strings.

Every shape above plays only D, F, A and C, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.