D7 cavaquinho chord
D7 (D seventh) is built from D, F#, A and C, the degrees 1–3–5–b7. On cavaquinho, the main shape is 4 5 3 4, the first diagram, marked with the star.
Say this out loud: "once upon a..." — and stop right there. Uncomfortable, isn't it? The sentence is hanging. That discomfort has a sound: D7 is a sentence without a period. Press play down there.
Hear D7 before you play
Why D7 sounds this way
Why does it sound unfinished? Inside D7, two notes are arguing: F# and C. Now listen to the arpeggio, one note at a time and catch the second and the last note — the distance between them is the tritone, one of the tensest intervals in tonal music. D and A keep the house standing while those two argue inside it. And an argument, you know, demands a resolution.
How to play D7 on cavaquinho
On the cavaquinho, four steel strings tuned D–G–B–D pack the chord into a small, bright space — every finger counts. So grab the first position below; it's the main shape — that's why it carries the ⭐. Now the experiment that explains this chord better than any explanation: play D7, count to three, then play G. Felt the door close? Do it again. That relief is the dominant's job.
In the app: 17 D7 shapes on cavaquinho
With the fingering and audio of each one, free. In the app, the arpeggio of each shape is part of Pro.
Precision Tuner: Get in tune before you play: chromatic tuner and reference tones, free in standard tuning · open in Chord and Fret
The other positions earn their keep in blues and jazz, where this chord is practically the official language; learn them one at a time.
Left-handed? Mirror's right here
D7 notes and degrees
D7 stacks the root D, the major third F#, the perfect fifth A and the minor seventh C.
Where D7 shows up
Its most common job is the dominant, and dominants live as VII7 in E minor, V7 in G major. Translation: wherever it shows up, the music is usually about to move. In the blues, though, D7 can also be the home chord. A chart full of 7th chords is a song that won't sit still.
Transpose & Capo: Need it in another key? Transpose the progression for free; finding the best capo is part of Pro · see it in Chord and Fret
Identify Chord: Found a shape on your fretboard? Mark it on the screen and the app names the chord, 5 times a day for free · use it in Chord and Fret
Where D7 usually goes
When D7 works as the dominant of G, it usually resolves to G or GmGmGmGm. In other contexts the sequence changes: in the blues, D7 can be the home chord itself. Typically, not a rule.
Going beyond D7
For soloing, D Mixolydian (D E F# G A B C · 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7: the major scale with a lowered seventh — the blues accent); D Lydian dominant (D E F# G# A B C · 1 2 3 #4 5 6 b7: a mixolydian with a raised fourth: the dominant in formalwear) cover the whole chord. And look at the first swap on the list below: that's the famous tritone substitution, a second dominant hiding three whole steps away, the one arrangers reach for when they want to arrive at the same place by a prettier road.
D Mixolydian
In the app: the 7 positions of D Mixolydian on cavaquinho
With degree, note and finger labels on each one, free. Playing the whole scale is part of Pro.
The same D Mixolydian in its main shapes along the neck — pick whichever position sits under your hand. The rings mark the guide notes (the 3rd and 7th) that carry this chord's color.
Scale: The scale's positions across the neck, with degree, note and finger labels, free; playing the scale and the tempo-ramp exercise are part of Pro · try it in Chord and Fret
Scales to improvise over D7
The D Mixolydian scale is a common choice over D7: no chord tone is left out of it. The best fit depends on the key, the surrounding chords and the tensions you want. When D7 moves to G, its third, F#, is the leading tone of G: the note that wants to rise a half step.
Swaps that work:
- Ab7Ab7Ab7Ab7 — Tritone substitution (shared 3rd–7th tritone)
- Am7Am7Am7Am7 — Forms a II–V: precede with this ii
- Ebdim7 — Passing diminished (ascending)
Reharmonize: Want richer substitutions? Reharmonize's Subtle and Medium levels are free; Bold and Jazz are part of Pro · try it in Chord and Fret
You already know how this sentence usually ends. As a dominant, the period after D7 is G — go there and close it with your own fingers.
D7 chord questions
What notes are in the D7 chord?
The D7 chord is made of the notes D, F#, A and C.
How do you play D7 on cavaquinho?
Form the shape from string 4 to string 1: 4 5 3 4. The shape starts at fret 3.
What chord comes after D7?
When D7 works as the dominant of G, it usually resolves to G or Gm. In other contexts the sequence changes: in the blues, D7 can be the home chord itself.
What scale works over D7?
The D Mixolydian scale is a common choice over D7: no chord tone is left out of it. The best fit depends on the key, the surrounding chords and the tensions you want.