How to play the Dm7 chord on guitar
D minor seventh (Dm7) in standard tuning (EADGBE). Play the shape xx0211 from the low E string to the high E string. The chord tones are D, F, A, C, and the lowest sounding note is D.
Fingering chart
| String | Fret | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 6th (low E) | Muted | Not played |
| 5th (A) | Muted | Not played |
| 4th (D) | Open | D |
| 3rd (G) | 2 | A |
| 2nd (B) | 1 | C |
| 1st (high E) | 1 | F |
Notes and intervals
Formula 1 b3 5 b7. This shape sounds each chord tone.
| Note | Degree | Interval from D | In this shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | 1 | Root (0 semitones) | Yes |
| F | b3 | Minor 3rd (3 semitones) | Yes |
| A | 5 | Perfect 5th (7 semitones) | Yes |
| C | b7 | Minor 7th (10 semitones) | Yes |
Changing chords from Dm7
Dm7 sounds four strings with two strings muted: three fretted positions between frets 1 and 2, plus one open string. The quickest changes leave fretted notes where they are, so the hand pivots instead of lifting off the neck. These are the chords in this library that share the most fretted notes with the Dm7 shape.
- Dm7 to F: keep three fretted notes in place (3rd string fret 2, 2nd string fret 1, 1st string fret 1), three new positions to fret.
- Dm7 to Dm: keep two fretted notes in place (3rd string fret 2, 1st string fret 1), one new position to fret.
- Dm7 to D7: keep two fretted notes in place (3rd string fret 2, 2nd string fret 1), one new position to fret.
- Dm7 to Fmaj7: keep two fretted notes in place (3rd string fret 2, 2nd string fret 1), one new position to fret.