Dm7 Guitar Chord
The D minor 7 chord (Dm7) is a fascinating chord that blends melancholy with a touch of curiosity.
It's a variant of the D minor chord, enriched with a seventh interval (C note) that adds a unique character.
This chord is especially prevalent in blues, but you'll also find it in pop and funk music, offering a sense of melancholy and contemplation.
The Dm7 chord is formed by combining the notes D, F, A, and C. These four notes create the distinct sound of Dm7.
The formula for the minor 7th chord is: root, Minor Third, Perfect Fifth, and Minor Seventh (1, b3, 5, b7).
Notes in the D m7 chord:
DFAC
Chord Formula:
Dm7 Guitar Chord | Full Tutorial
Dm7 is a versatile and emotionally rich chord that can add depth to your music.
Whether in pop, funk, or blues, its unique sound enhances musical expression, making it a valuable addition to your guitar-playing repertoire.
Experiment with different positions and listen to its use in various songs to fully appreciate and master this chord.
Here below you find important information about this chord.
The Dm7 3 Most Common Voicings
Open String Voicing
This is the most frequent shape that guitar players learn at the beginning.
- Middle finger on the 2nd fret of the G (3rd) string
- Partial barre across the 6th and 5th strings, with the index finger
- Let the D string ring open
Movable Shape Version 1
This is a quite difficult shape that use a 5-string barre. You can move this shape up or down the fretboard to play other m7 chord, because it does not use open strings.
- 5-strings barre (5th to 1st) with index finger at the 5th fret.
- Middle finger on the 6th fret of the B (2nd) string
- Ring finger on the 7th fret of the D (3rd) string
- Mute the E lowest string
Movable Shape - Shell Chord
This is a shell chord shape, often used in Jazz.
- Index finger on the 10th fret of the 6th string (E string).
- Place your middle finger on the 10th fret of the 3rd string (D string)
- Place your ring finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string (G string)
- Mute the 5th (A), 1st (E) and 2nd (B) strings.
Keys And Roles Of Dm7 Chord
The Dm7 is common in C Major and F Major keys.
In the C Major key, Dm7 is the 2nd degree, called the supertonic, and it's quite common in ii-V-I Jazz progression
In the F Major key, D is the relative minor (6th degree), the submediant.
C Major Key
C maj7 | D m7 | E m7 | F maj7 | G 7 | A m7 | B m7/b5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
B (7) G (5) E (3) C (1) | C (1) A (6) F (4) D (2) | D (2) B (7) G (5) E (3) | E (3) C (1) A (6) F (4) | F (4) D (2) B (7) G (5) | G (5) E (3) C (1) A (6) | A (6) F (4) D (2) B (7) |
F Major Key
F maj7 | G m7 | A m7 | Bb maj7 | C 7 | D m7 | E m7/b5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
E (7) C (5) A (3) F (1) | F (1) D (6) Bb (4) G (2) | G (2) E (7) C (5) A (3) | A (3) F (1) D (6) Bb (4) | Bb (4) G (2) E (7) C (5) | C (5) A (3) F (1) D (6) | D (6) Bb (4) G (2) E (7) |
Typical Chord Progression With Dm7
Here are some common chord progressions in which you'll find this chord:
- In C Major: Dm7 as ii, in a ii-V-I Jazz progression: Dm7 - G7 - Cmaj7
- In Bb Major: Dm7 as iii, in a I-iii7-ii7 progression: Bb - Dm7 - Cm7
- In F Major: Dm7 as vi, in a I-ii-IV-vi7 progression: F - Gm - Bb - Dm7
Guitar Chord Shapes For Dm7
Chord boxes are sorted from the easiest to the hardest. Learn how to read chord diagrams.
If you have difficulties with bar chord shapes, check the Bar Chords Tips tutorial.
Find more shapes on my all guitar chords online library.
Position 1
Movable
Position 2
Movable
Position 3
Movable
Position 4
Open
Position 5
Movable
Position 6
BarreMovable
Position 7
BarreOpen
Position 8
BarreOpen
Position 9
BarreMovable
Position 10
BarreMovable
Position 11
BarreMovable
Position 12
BarreMovable
Position 13
BarreMovable
Position 14
BarreMovable
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Play This Chord With Other Roots
C m7 | D m7 | E m7 | F m7 | G m7 | A m7 | B m7 | C#m7 | D#m7 | F#m7 | G#m7 | A#m7
Fretboard Map Of Tones In D Minor Seventh Chord
You can create any fingering you like on any part of the fretboard, just play some of the chord tones shown in the map below. Some shapes will sound good, some less, let your ears decide!