What Is a D7 Guitar Chord?
In our journey of learning guitar chords today, we will look at the D7 guitar chord.
So have you ever come across the D7 guitar chord and wondered how you play it? Or perhaps you’ve tried playing it for a few songs but couldn’t get it right? Or maybe you’ve never heard about it. Well, don’t worry because you’re in the right place. In this blog, we will tell you all there is to know about the D7 guitar chord.
The D7 guitar is somewhat similar to the B7 guitar chord. The D7 guitar chord is also chord D dominant seventh chord. This specific chord is used to get an uplifting sound while playing guitar, and it is used in different types of country and mellow-rock music genres.
Considering how popular this dominant seventh chord is in jazz and classical music, not only that, but it is also used in some pop tunes. In short, it is super important for you guys to learn how to play this chord, regardless of what genres you play.
Any prospective guitarist should be familiar with the D7 chord because it is versatile and commonly used. It is essential for many chord progressions and musical compositions as it increases anticipation and tension before resolving to the tonic chord.
With that being said, let’s look into the various ways you can play the D7 chord.
How Do You Play a D7 Chord on Guitar?
The D7 chord is a four-note chord. It is made up of notes D, F#, A, and C. The root note of D is used, with the major third F#, the fifth A, and the flat seventh C.
To play the D7 chord on the guitar, you need to place your fingers on the fretboard in the following positions:
First Finger, aka Index Finger
You should place the finger on the second fret of the G string.
Second Finger, aka Middle Finger
Your middle finger should be on the second fret of the high E string.
Third Finger, aka Ring Finger
The third finger should be on the third fret of the B string.
Once you have positioned your fingers in their designated places, you should proceed with the strumming.
However, you have to keep in mind that you do not play the Low E string while strumming; this is one of the most common mistakes made by the guitarist.
Different Ways of Playing D7 on Guitar
The open D7 guitar chord is one of the most common approaches used to play this chord, and it is considered the easiest one too.
If you have already mastered the D major chord, then learning D7 will be a piece of cake for you because the D7 chord basically reverses finger positioning.
Open D7 Chord
Finger Placements:
First Finger: Second fret of the G string.
Second Finger: Second fret of the high E string.
Third Finger: Third fret of the B string.
After this, start to strum the D7 chord.
D7 Chord With Open A String
Finger Placement:
First Finger: Second fret of the G string.
Second Finger: Second fret of the high E string.
Third Finger: Third fret of the B string.
D7 Chord With Open G String
Finger Placements:
First Finger: Second fret of the G string.
Second Finger: Third fret of the B string.
Third Finger: Second fret of the high E string.
Barre D7 Chord
Finger Placements:
You should barre the first finger across all the strings of the second fret and then position the other fingers as follows:
Second Finger: Third fret of the B string.
Third Finger: Fourth fret of the D string.
Fourth Finger: Fifth fret of A string.
Cc: Grow Guitar
Popular Songs with B7
- Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
This song came out in 1961, and it is one of Presley’s most popular songs. The chorus of this song classic song uses the D7 chord progression.
This song is mainly known for its simple, beautiful melody with gentle guitar music.
- Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
This song came out in 1971, and it immediately became a hit. This song features a repeating chord progression of the D7 chord, so you can try out playing “Ain’t No Sunshine” while practicing the D7 chord.
- Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
This classic wrong song came out in 1967, and it is a song that was top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for quite a long time. This song requires a prominent use of the D7 chord. So Brown Eyed Girl could be one of the few songs you can learn when you master the D7 guitar chord.
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These guitar lessons are a big help for everyone who has just started because they will get you familiar with all these different types of chords and much more in your guitar journey. Zager’s guitar library includes the following:
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Frequently Asked Questions
The most common way to use the D7 chord in a chord progression is by using the D chord as a dominant chord leading towards the G chord using the key of D major.
This is one of the most frequently asked questions, and the answer to this is YES, absolutely. The D7 chord can be substituted for a D chord in many places since the D7 adds a bit of tension to the chord progression, so you ultimately get a more dynamic sound.
D7 may be combined with various chords, but it all depends on the key and the musical style you are playing. But commonly, it is combined with G, E, and A chords.
