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D Dominant 7th Chord
The D Dominant 7th Chord is D, F-sharp, A, and C. Only the second note is a black key, so the second finger reaches into the black keys while the others stay on white. The chord has a strong pull toward G, and the C on top is what creates that pull, so let's make sure it's clearly heard.
How to play the D Dominant 7th Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the D Dominant 7th Chord and how to play it in the various forms you will encounter in pieces of music. First, we’ll look at the fundamental chord and its inversions; then, we’ll explore some more complex voicings.
The D Dominant 7th Chord in root position
In root position, the notes of the D dominant 7th chord are stacked in thirds with D on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.
| D Dominant 7th Chord in root position | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | D F♯ A C |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | D7 |
The D Dominant 7th Chord in first inversion
In first inversion, the third of the chord (F♯) becomes the bottom note, and the root (D) jumps up to the top.
| D Dominant 7th Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | F♯ A C D |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 4 5 |
| Chord Symbol | D6/5 or D7/F♯ |
The D Dominant 7th Chord in second inversion
In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (A) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (F♯) goes to the top.
| D Dominant 7th Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | A C D F♯ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | D4/3 or D7/A |
The D Dominant 7th Chord in third inversion
In third inversion, the seventh of the chord (C) is on the bottom, and the fifth of the chord (A) goes to the top.
| D Dominant 7th Chord in 3rd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | C D F♯ A |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 4 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | D4/2 or D7/C |
D Dominant 7th Chord theory and function
The dominant 7th is the chord that most wants to resolve. Its third and seventh form a tritone, and each of those notes pulls by step: the third up, the seventh down. That pull is what makes V7 lead so firmly to I.
The D dominant 7th chord is the dominant (V7) in G major. In minor keys, it is the dominant (V7) in G minor.
The resolution is D7 – G: F♯ steps up to G and C steps down to B. At a cadence, V7 – I is the sound of a phrase ending. When a dominant 7th chord turns up in a key where it isn’t the V7 (the chord built on the fifth scale degree), it is almost always pointing at the chord a fourth above it. Try playing D7 and then G and listen for those two half steps.
Other chords built on D
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