D7 7-string bass chord

How to play D7 on 7-string bass

The most common way, the first shape above: your ring finger on the B string at the 3rd fret, your index finger on the E string at the 2nd fret and your middle finger on the G string at the 2nd fret. Let the A, D and C strings ring open. Don’t play the F string.

From the B string 3 2 0 0 2 0 x (x: not played, 0: open)

What notes are in D7?

D7, D dominant seventh, is D, F♯, A and C: the root (D), the major third (F♯), the perfect fifth (A) and the minor seventh (C). Its formula is 1 3 5 ♭7.

Are D7 and Dmaj7 the same?

No. Both add a seventh to D, but D7 adds the minor seventh, C, and Dmaj7 the major seventh, C♯. D7 sounds restless and wants to move on; Dmaj7 sounds settled and dreamy.

Can I play D instead of D7?

Usually, yes: the song still works, with less pull. D7 is a dominant seventh, the V7 of G major, and its F♯ and C lead straight into G.

Keys with D7

D7 is the V7 chord in G major and the VII7 chord in E minor, and the V7 of G minor, the major fifth chord from its harmonic minor scale.