Beginner Guitar Chords – Learn How to Play the D7 Chord

D7 Guitar Chord Lesson – Guitar Chord For Beginners

The D7 Chord is found by first locating the 1, 3 and 5  positions (D, F# and A) of the D Major Scale: D E F# G A B C# D, and then adding a flat 7 note. To locate the flat 7 note, we first find the 7th note of the D Major scale (C#) and then go back a 1/2 step to the C.

So the notes of the D7 Chord are: D  F# A C.

Here is a key that will help you read the chart:

Everything on the above chart should be self explanatory, except for the last three in the third column. They may need a bit of explaining. The O, or open symbol, simply means that you do not press down on any notes on that string. The X means you do not strum that particular string. The Barre symbol means you need to barre that particular fret. When you barre a fret you are pressing down on multiple strings at the same time with one finger.

This second D7 chord is technically a chord inversion because the D note is no longer the bass note or lowest pitch. The A note now becomes the bass note.  It is still referred to as a D7 chord though.  If you play it, you will notice it sounds just like the D7 chord above only it has a fuller sound because we are adding an additional A, or 5th position to this chord.

Chord Playing Tip: Be sure that you are pressing down on the string hard enough. You should play each string one at a time to make sure you have a nice clean sound. If any of the strings buzz or sound muted, then something is not right.

D7 Guitar Chord Video

The video below will further demonstrate how to correctly play the D7 Chord. Enjoy!