D major 7th chord on piano
The D major 7th chord is D–F#–A–C#. Tap the keys below to hear it.
Dmaj7D · F# · A · C#
Tap the keys to hear them
Dmaj7 stacks a C# on top of the D triad, the leading tone that gives major-seventh chords their suspended warmth. It colours ballads in D and A alike.
How the D major 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 Dmaj7.
| 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 Dmaj7.
Where Dmaj7 shows up
Dmaj7 is the home chord (I) of D major played with its major seventh on top; the key has two sharps. Everywhere the plain D triad works, Dmaj7 works with extra colour, and it shares its scale with B minor.
It closes the classic ii–V–I: Em7–A7–Dmaj7.
Common questions
What notes are in the D major 7th chord?
The D major 7th chord is made up of D, F#, A, C#. F# and C# are black keys, which gives the shape its raised middle.
What fingers should I use to play Dmaj7 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). Dmaj7 puts finger 2 on F#, the first of its black keys.
What are the seventh chords in the key of D major?
Building a seventh on each degree of the D major scale gives Dmaj7, Em7, F#m7, Gmaj7, A7, Bm7, C#m7b5. Dmaj7 is the first of them, the I maj7.
When should I play Dmaj7 instead of D major?
They are interchangeable in most progressions: Dmaj7 is the D triad with C# added on top. Reach for Dmaj7 when the moment calls for a softer, jazzier landing; reach for the plain triad when the music needs directness.
More D chords
Reviewed by
Composer, arranger and music educator. BA Music (LIPA), MA Composition (University of Salford).
Last updated 2026-08-19