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.
Construction
D Dominant 7th = Root + Major 3rd + Perfect 5th + Minor 7th = D · F♯ · A · C
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| D | Root | 1 |
| F♯ | Major 3rd | 3 |
| A | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| C | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
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 | C – D – F♯ – A |
Key Signature
A dominant chord points home to the key a fifth below its root: the D Dominant 7th is the V (dominant) of G Major, so the relevant key signature is that key’s — 1 sharp (F♯). Spelled as a scale, these notes are D Mixolydian.
F♯
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 G Major
These are the triads built on each degree of the G major scale:
How D Dominant 7th functions in a key
The same chord takes on a different harmonic role depending on the key it appears in. Here is where D Dominant 7th sits diatonically across the common keys:
- In G major, D Dominant 7th is the V chord — the dominant.
- In E minor, D Dominant 7th is the ♭VII chord — a mediant / color chord.
D Dominant 7th — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the D Dominant 7th chord on piano?
The D Dominant 7th chord contains the notes D – F♯ – A – C. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
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.