4 notes · 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7

D Minor Seventh Piano Chord (Dm7)

Dm7 is built from D, F, A and C — the formula 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7, or 3, 7 and 10 semitones above D. The shape uses white keys only, and you can hear it, invert it and compare it below.

Root noteChord type

Chord

D Minor seventh

Notes

D · F · A · C

Formula

1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7

Right hand

1 · 2 · 3 · 5

Choose a chord, then play it. Finger numbers run from thumb (1) to little finger (5).

The finder above already holds Dm7. Press P or the Play chord button to hear D, F, A, C sounded together, then change the root or the chord type to compare it with something else.

Chord tones

The notes in Dm7

A minor seventh chord adds a minor seventh above a minor triad. It keeps the darker colour of the minor third, but the extra note softens the edge, so the chord feels relaxed rather than sad. Minor sevenths are the natural seventh chords on the second, third and sixth degrees of a major scale.

Each tone of D minor seventh with its interval, scale degree, distance in semitones from D and a suggested right-hand finger.
Note	Interval	Degree	Semitones	Right hand
Dwhite key	Root	1	0	1 · thumb
Fwhite key	Minor third	♭3	3	2 · index finger
Awhite key	Perfect fifth	5	7	3 · middle finger
Cwhite key	Minor seventh	♭7	10	5 · little finger

Step by step

How to play Dm7 on piano

Find D: it is the white key between the two black keys of a group of two.
Build upwards from D using 3, 7 and 10 semitones to reach F, A and C.
With the right hand, place finger 1 on D, finger 2 on F, finger 3 on A and finger 5 on C. Keep the wrist level and the knuckles rounded.
Every note here is a white key, so you can sit your hand slightly further out from the fallboard.
Play the notes together, then one at a time from the bottom up, and listen to how Dm7 settles.
Try first inversion as well: F – A – C – D. Inversions let you change chords without jumping around the keyboard.

Inversions

Dm7 in 4 positions

An inversion keeps the same 4 notes and simply moves the lowest one up an octave. Learning them means you can change chords with small hand movements instead of jumping to a new part of the keyboard.

Root position

D – F – A – C

The root D is the lowest note. This is the shape most people learn first.

First inversion

F – A – C – D

F is the lowest note, so the minor third sits in the bass and the notes below it move up an octave.

Second inversion

A – C – D – F

A is the lowest note, so the perfect fifth sits in the bass and the notes below it move up an octave.

Third inversion

C – D – F – A

C is the lowest note, so the minor seventh sits in the bass and the notes below it move up an octave.

In context

Which keys contain Dm7

In C major the chord functions as ii7. Altogether it is produced by the scales of 6 keys, so learning it once pays off in several places.

C majorii7
F majorvi7
B♭ majoriii7
D minori7
G minorv7
A minoriv7

Chord tones are spelled by the degree they occupy, so the third of a minor chord is written as a flat rather than a sharp even though it is the same key on the piano. A double sharp such as F## means the key one whole tone above F.

Compare

Dm7 against D7

Dm7 and D7 share D, A and C. Moving the major third F# down 1 semitone to the minor third F turns D7 into Dm7.

Practise the pair together: hold the shared notes D, A, C still and move only the one finger. Hearing that single change is the quickest way to recognise the two chords by ear.

Open D7 →

Good questions

Dm7 questions

What notes are in the Dm7 chord?

Dm7 contains D, F, A and C. Counted from the root, that is the formula 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7, or 3, 7 and 10 semitones above D.

What is the right-hand fingering for Dm7?

A comfortable beginner fingering is 1 (thumb) on D, 2 (index finger) on F, 3 (middle finger) on A and 5 (little finger) on C. Finger numbers run from the thumb (1) to the little finger (5), and they change once you start using inversions.

How is Dm7 different from D7?

Dm7 and D7 share D, A and C. Moving the major third F# down 1 semitone to the minor third F turns D7 into Dm7.

Which keys use the Dm7 chord?

It occurs naturally in C major (ii7), F major (vi7), B♭ major (iii7), D minor (i7), G minor (v7) and A minor (iv7). The roman numeral shows which degree of the key the chord is built on.

What are the inversions of Dm7?

root position is D – F – A – C, first inversion is F – A – C – D, second inversion is A – C – D – F and third inversion is C – D – F – A. Every inversion holds the same notes; only the lowest one changes.