D minor 7th chord on piano
The D minor 7th chord is D–F–A–C. Tap the keys below to hear it.
Dm7D · F · A · C
Tap the keys to hear them
Dm7 is the ii chord of C major and the opening move of the ii-V-I progression. The added seventh rounds off the Dm triad, ideal for verses that want reflection without weight.
How the D minor 7th chord is built
Fingerings & inversions
Standard fingerings use the thumb (1), the little finger (5), and either the index (2) or middle finger (3). Hand size and musical context change what feels natural. Switch Fingers on above to see 1-2-3-5 land for Dm7.
| Position | Notes (bottom → top) | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | D – F – A – C | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 1st inversion | F – A – C – D | 1-2-4-5 | 5-4-2-1 |
| 2nd inversion | A – C – D – F | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 3rd inversion | C – D – F – A | 1-2-4-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
Inversion diagrams
The inversion buttons above play all 4 shapes of Dm7.
Where Dm7 shows up
Dm7 is built on D minor, the relative minor of F major. The key of D minor has one flat. Dm7 works as the ii7 in C and the iii7 in Bb, the roles that put it at the front of jazz and soul progressions.
Jazz players know it as the start of Dm7–G7–Cmaj7, the ii–V–I in C major.
Common questions
What notes are in the D minor 7th chord?
The D minor 7th chord is made up of D, F, A, C. All white keys: start on D, skip a key to F, skip another to A, and the shape is under your hand.
What fingers should I use to play Dm7 on piano?
In root position, the standard fingering is 1-2-3-5 in the right hand and 5-3-2-1 in the left hand (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger). D, F, A, C are all white keys; find D between the two black keys, and the rest of the shape follows.
What are the seventh chords in the key of D minor?
Building a seventh on each degree of the D natural minor scale gives Dm7, Em7b5, Fmaj7, Gm7, Am7, Bbmaj7, C7. Dm7 is the home chord of the set.
When should I play Dm7 instead of D minor?
Dm7 is the D minor triad with C added on top, so the two swap freely. The seventh takes the edge off the minor sound; use the plain triad when you want the sadness undiluted.
More D chords
Reviewed by
Composer, arranger and music educator. BA Music (LIPA), MA Composition (University of Salford).
Last updated 2026-08-19