Dm7 guitar chord
The D minor 7th chord: every way to play it on the neck, the notes in it, and the scales that sound good over it.
What's in Dm7
- Notes
- D – F – A – C
- Formula
- 1 – b3 – 5 – b7
- Name
- D minor 7th
Dm7D · F · A · C
3 ways to play it · Tuning E A D G B E
- Open · D shape
- A shape · 5th fret
- E shape · 10th fret
What to play over Dm7
Start with the chord's own notes — D, F, A, C — and land on them on the strong beats. Then reach for a scale; which one depends on the chord's job in the song.
- D Dorian mode
The usual choice over m7, especially a ii7 in a ii–V–I.
- D minor pentatonic scale
The safe start — it holds all four notes of the chord.
- D natural minor scale
The natural minor, when the chord is the home chord (i7).
Questions
What notes are in a Dm7 chord?
Dm7 has 4 notes: D, F, A, C. Counted from the root, its formula is 1 – b3 – 5 – b7.
What scale goes with Dm7?
D Dorian mode is the place to start. The usual choice over m7, especially a ii7 in a ii–V–I.