Guitar chord

D Dominant 7 Open Chord

A common open D7 chord shape in standard tuning.

Symbol
D7
Chord tones
D, F#, A, C
Formula
1 3 5 b7
Tuning
Standard
Frets, low to high
X X 0 2 1 2
Fingers, low to high
- - - 2 1 3

Chord fingering diagram

Read the chart vertically with the nut at the top. X means mute the string, markers above the nut are played open, and numbered markers show fretting-hand fingers.

D Dominant 7 Open Chord chord fingering diagram
D Dominant 7 Open Chord guitar chord fingering chart in standard tuning.

How to play D7

Fretting hand

Place finger 2 on the 3rd string at fret 2, finger 1 on the 2nd string at fret 1, and finger 3 on the 1st string at fret 2. Fret each note close behind the fret wire without resting directly on it.

Clean sound check

Let the 4th string ring open. Keep the 6th string and 5th string muted. Arch the fretting fingers so their sides do not silence neighboring strings, then pick every sounding string separately.

Sound and use

D7 combines a major triad with a flat seventh, creating tension that commonly resolves to a chord rooted a perfect fourth higher. It is also central to blues harmony.

More D chords

Keep the root fixed and compare how the third, seventh, suspended tones, or added tones change the sound.

More Dominant 7 chord shapes

Practice the same chord quality from other roots to reinforce its interval sound and common fingering patterns.