Dm7 Chord

How to play D minor 7th on guitar — smooth and mellow; a minor chord with the edge taken off.

311
Notes
D – F – A – C
Frets (low → high)
x x 0 2 1 1
Difficulty
Easy
Shape
Open position

How to play Dm7, step by step

  1. 1Put your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the G string (3rd).
  2. 2Flatten your index finger across the B and high E strings at the 1st fret.
  3. 3Leave the low E and A strings out — mute them with the side of a finger, or just avoid them as you strum.
  4. 4Let the D string ring open.
  5. 5Strum slowly and check every string sounds cleanly; if one buzzes, press closer to the fret wire and arch your fingers so they clear the neighbouring strings.

What makes a minor seventh chord

Smooth and mellow; a minor chord with the edge taken off.

NoteIntervalSemitones above D
Droot0
Fminor 3rd3
A5th7
Cminor 7th10

Other D chords

Same root, different colour. Swapping one of these into a progression is the quickest way to change its mood without changing the key.

Every minor 7th chord

The same shape moved around the neck. If you can play Dm7 you are a fret-slide away from all of these.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Dm7 chord?
Dm7 is made of D, F, A, C — the root, minor 3rd, 5th, minor 7th of D.
Is Dm7 hard to play?
No — Dm7 sits at x x 0 2 1 1 and is rated easy, so it is comfortable for most beginners.

Got a chart full of chords like Dm7?

Upload a chord sheet and move every chord into a key that fits your hands and your voice — the layout stays exactly as printed. Or let the capo calculator pick the position that turns the barre chords into open ones.