Let’s learn how to form a Dm7 chord on piano. A minor seventh chord is formed by combining the root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh of the major scale. The notes of the D major scale are D – E – F# – G – A – B – C#. Following the minor 7 chord formula 1 – 3b – 5 – 7b, the notes used in a D minor 7 chord are D – F – A – C. While F# and C# are found in the D major scale, in the D minor seventh chord they have been lowered by a semitone and the notes F and C are played.
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The D minor seventh chord is commonly written as Dm7, D min7, D -7, and D minor 7.
In terms of intervals, a minor seventh chord is made up of a minor interval, a major interval and a minor interval. For the first minor interval, start on the note, D, skip two semitones, D# and E, and land on the third semitone, F. This is an interval of one and a half steps (3 half steps or tones). For the next interval, the major interval, start on the note F, skip three semitones, F#, G and G# and land on the fourth semitone, A. This is an interval of four half steps ( two steps or tones). For the second minor interval, start on the note A, skip two semitones, A# and B, and land on the third semitone, C. This is an interval of three semitones (one and a half tones or steps).
The Dm7 chord can be played in different voicings and inversions.
Firstly, in root position, the notes of the Dm7 chord is in the sequence D – F – A – C. D is played with finger 1 (thumb), F is played with finger 2, A is played with 3, and C is played with finger 5.
In the first inversion of the Dmin7 chord, the note D is moved up one octave and the sequence of notes becomes F – A – C – D. To play the second inversion of the chord, the note F must be moved up one octave and the sequence of pitches becomes A – C – D – F. Lastly, for the third inversion of the D minor 7 piano chord, the note A must be moved up one octave and the sequence of pitches now becomes C – D – F – A. In every inversion of the chord the notes are the same. The only difference is where the notes are located in the chord.
You should now have a clearer understanding of how to form a Dmin7 chord. To learn how to form minor seventh chords in other keys, return from Dm7 chord page to main piano chords page. You will learn how to build chords in all keys. In addition to these chords you can learn how to build many other types, such as major, minor, 6th, 7th, augmented and diminished chords. You can learn how to form more advanced 9th, 11th and 13th chords as well.
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