D Dominant 7th
Hear the D Dominant 7th chord played for you.
D7
D – F♯ – A – C
Formula:R-M3-P5-m7
Intervals:P1-M3-P5-m7
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-b7
Introduction
The D Dominant 7th chord is a four-note chord made up of D, F♯, A, and C. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh.
The D Dominant 7th piano chord (D7) consists of the notes D, F#, A, C. It is a major triad with an added minor 7th, giving it a bluesy, tense sound that strongly wants to resolve. Formula: R-M3-P5-m7 | Scale degrees: 1-3-5-b7.
Notes
D Dominant 7th Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | D – F♯ – A – C |
| 1st Inversion | F♯ – A – C – D |
| 2nd Inversion | A – C – D – F♯ |
| 3rd Inversion | D – F♯ – A – C |
Key Signature
The key of D Dominant 7th has 2 sharps.
F♯C♯
Order of sharps
Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.
F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯E♯B♯
Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Chords in the Key of D Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the D major scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — D Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-M3-P5-m7
Intervals: P1-M3-P5-m7
The D Dominant 7th is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-M3-P5-m7 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-M3-P5-m7 show the distance between each note in the chord.
D Dominant 7th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the D Dominant 7th chord?
The D Dominant 7th chord (D7) contains four notes: D (root), F# (major third), A (perfect fifth), and C (minor seventh). The combination of a major triad with a minor seventh creates the dominant 7th's signature bluesy tension.
How does D Dominant 7th differ from D Major?
D Major contains three notes: D, F#, A. D Dominant 7th adds a C (minor seventh) on top. That single added note transforms a stable, resolved chord into one that urgently wants to resolve — typically down a fifth to G Major.
What does 'dominant' mean in music theory?
'Dominant' refers to the fifth scale degree. The dominant 7th chord is built on the fifth note of a key and contains a tritone that creates strong pull toward resolution. D7 is the dominant chord in the key of G Major — one of the most common keys in popular music.
How is D Dominant 7th used in music?
D7 most commonly resolves to G Major in a V7–I cadence. It is one of the most frequently used dominant 7th chords in folk, country, blues, and rock because G Major is such a common key. D7 also appears as the V7 in G minor contexts.
What songs use dominant 7th chords?
Dominant 7th chords are the backbone of blues and early rock: every chord in a standard 12-bar blues is a dominant 7th. Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles), Ain't Misbehavin' (Fats Waller), and countless jazz standards rely on dominant 7th movement for their harmonic drive.
What is the tritone in D Dominant 7th?
The tritone in D7 is the interval between F# (the third) and C (the seventh) — exactly 6 semitones apart. This is the most unstable interval in Western music and gives D7 its strong pull toward G. The F# resolves up to G and the C resolves down to B.
Practice Tips
- Play D Major then add C with your pinky — hear how that one note transforms stability into motion.
- The tritone between F# and C is the engine of D7. Play just those two notes together, then resolve: F# up to G, C down to B. This is V7–I voice leading in G Major.
- Practice the essential resolution: D7 → G Major. This is one of the most common chord movements in all of music — master it in every inversion.
- D7 is the V chord in a 12-bar blues in G: G7–G7–G7–G7–C7–C7–G7–G7–D7–C7–G7–D7. Practice the full form.
- Compare D7 with Dm7 — the major third (F#) in D7 gives it brightness and forward drive, while the minor third in Dm7 creates a smooth, dark sound.
- Try rootless voicings: play F#–A–C without the D — this three-note voicing is how jazz pianists play dominant chords when a bassist handles the root.
Related Tools
Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.