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D7 chord

D7 (D dominant seventh) is D, F♯, A and C. It sounds bluesy and restless: it wants to move on, usually a fourth up.

D7

D dominant seventh · D F♯ A C · 1 3 5 ♭7

DACF♯

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Root
Chord

Tap keys on the piano to find which chord they make. The editor opens without an account.

Notes in the D7 chord

From D, count 4 half steps up to F♯, 3 more to A and 3 more to C. Its formula is 1 3 5 ♭7: each number is the note’s place in the D major scale, with ♭ a half step lower and ♯ a half step higher. On the piano it is three white keys and one black key (F♯).

The notes of D7 and their intervals from D
NoteFormulaIntervalHalf steps up
D1Root0
F♯3Major third4
A5Perfect fifth7
C♭7Minor seventh10

D7 chord inversions

An inversion is the same chord with another of its notes at the bottom. It keeps the chord’s sound but moves your hand less between chords, which is why pianists use them all the time. The notes are listed lowest first.

Root position

D F♯ A C

Written D7, with the root at the bottom.

1st inversion

F♯ A C D

Written D7/F♯: F♯ at the bottom.

2nd inversion

A C D F♯

Written D7/A: A at the bottom.

3rd inversion

C D F♯ A

Written D7/C: C at the bottom.

Keys with the D7 chord

D7 is built from the notes of these keys, so it fits songs in them. The Roman numeral says which note of the key it starts on. Each key’s page has its scale and all its chords.

Major keys
Minor keys

Raised 7th: the minor key with its seventh note a half step higher (harmonic minor), as most minor songs play their V and vii chords.

Chords that often come after D7

GG B DD7 is the V7 of G: its seventh pulls straight home there.GmG B♭ DThe same pull into Gm, home in the minor key.EmE G BD7 to Em is V7 to vi, the surprise ending (a deceptive cadence).

More piano chords

Other chords on D

DDmDmaj7Dm7Dsus2Dsus4Dadd9D9D6DdimDm7♭5Ddim7Daug

Dominant seventh chords on other notes

C7C♯7E♭7E7F7F♯7G7A♭7A7B♭7B7

Or see every chord at once on the piano chords chart.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the D7 chord?

D7 is D, F♯, A and C. On the piano that is three white keys and one black key (F♯).

How do you play D7 on the piano?

With your right hand, play D, F♯, A and C with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5 (thumb to little finger). With your left hand it is 5, 3, 2 and 1. From D, count 4 half steps up to F♯, 3 more to A and 3 more to C.

What are the inversions of D7?

Root position: D F♯ A C. 1st inversion: F♯ A C D (D7/F♯). 2nd inversion: A C D F♯ (D7/A). 3rd inversion: C D F♯ A (D7/C). The notes are the same; only the lowest one changes.

What key is D7 in?

In major keys, D7 is the V7 chord in G major. In minor keys, it is the VII7 chord in E minor and the V7 chord in G minor (with its raised seventh).

Can I make a beat with D7?

Yes. “Make a beat in G major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in G major on G D Em C, the key where D7 is the V7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in G major

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in G major on G D Em C, the key where D7 is the V7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in G majorAll piano chords

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