D7 ukulele chord
D7 (D seventh) is built from D, F#, A and C, the degrees 1–3–5–b7. On ukulele, the main shape is 2 2 2 3, the first diagram, marked with the star.
A doorbell ringing with nobody answering. A phone buzzing face-down on the table. Some things only exist to be resolved — D7 is their musical version. Give the audio below a listen and feel the unfinished business.
Hear D7 before you play
Why D7 sounds this way
Why does it sound unfinished? Inside D7, two notes are at odds: F# and C. Play the arpeggio again, no rush 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 ukulele
On the ukulele, the high reentrant G makes every shape light — and with four strings, every note is exposed. 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, let it ring a moment, then play G. Felt the door close? Do it again. That relief is the dominant's job.
In the app: the D7 shapes on ukulele
With the fingering and audio of each one, free. In the app, the arpeggio and the campanella of each shape are part of Pro.
Precision Tuner: Get in tune before you play: chromatic tuner and reference tones, free in standard tuning · see it 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 · open 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 tends to resolve 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, the twin dominant living three whole steps from here, 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 ukulele
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 · open in Chord and Fret
Scales to improvise over D7
The D Mixolydian scale is a common choice over D7: it contains every note of the chord. 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
The question this page asked has a one-click answer: G. Don't end the day without playing both in a row.
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 ukulele?
Form the shape from string 4 to string 1: 2 2 2 3. The shape starts at fret 2.
What chord comes after D7?
When D7 works as the dominant of G, it tends to resolve 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: it contains every note of the chord. The best fit depends on the key, the surrounding chords and the tensions you want.