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D Minor 7th Guitar Chord (Dm7)

D minor 7th is a four-note chord built from D (the root), F (the minor third), A (the perfect fifth), and C (the minor seventh). It is the mellow cousin of plain D minor: the added ♭7 takes the sting out of the minor third and leaves a warm, jazzy haze. Below are 4 ways to play it in standard tuning, easiest shape first.

Dm7 chord shapes — standard tuning

open string × muted / not played 1–4 suggested finger 3fr shape starts at fret 3 R · 3 · 5 · ♭7 chord tone each string sounds
Dm7 guitar chord diagram, Open position, frets x-x-0-2-1-1××R351♭72♭3
Open position
x-x-0-2-1-1
Dm7 guitar chord diagram, Barre · 3fr, frets x-5-3-5-3-53fr×2R1♭33♭7R45
Barre · 3fr
x-5-3-5-3-5
Dm7 guitar chord diagram, Barre · 5fr, frets x-5-7-5-6-55fr×1R35♭72♭35
Barre · 5fr
x-5-7-5-6-5
Dm7 guitar chord diagram, Barre · 10fr, frets 10-12-10-10-10-1010fr1R25♭7♭35R
Barre · 10fr
10-12-10-10-10-10

How to play it

Place your index finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 1, and your ring finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 2. Let the D (4th) string ring open. Keep the low E (6th) and A (5th) strings out of the strum — start your downstroke from the D (4th) string.

Once that shape is comfortable, try the other 3 voicings above — same notes, different neck positions and textures.

Notes in this chord

SymbolIntervalNote
RrootD
♭3minor thirdF
5perfect fifthA
♭7minor seventhC

Dm7 FAQ

What notes are in Dm7?
Dm7 contains D, F, A, and C — the root (D), the minor third, the perfect fifth, and the minor seventh.

Is Dm7 a barre chord?
Not necessarily. The easiest Dm7 shape (x-x-0-2-1-1) needs no barre — it uses 3 fingers plus open strings. Barre versions exist too, starting at fret 3, and are handy when you want to move the same grip to other keys.

What is the easiest way to play Dm7 on guitar?
Start with the open position shape x-x-0-2-1-1. Place your index finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 1, and your ring finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 2. Let the D (4th) string ring open. Keep the low E (6th) and A (5th) strings out of the strum — start your downstroke from the D (4th) string.