The Open Dm7 Chord for Guitar

The Formula of the Chord

The Dm7 (D minor 7) chord is a versatile and expressive chord commonly used in various musical genres. It adds a slightly more complex and moody sound compared to the standard D minor chord. The formula for a minor 7 chord consists of four intervals: the root (R), the minor third (b3), the perfect fifth (5), and the minor seventh (b7). For the D minor 7 chord, the specific notes involved are:

• Root (R): D
• Minor Third (b3): F
• Perfect Fifth (5): A
• Minor Seventh (b7): C

In the open Dm7 chord that uses two fingers, the voicing we play includes these notes distributed across the strings as follows:

• 4th string (D): Open D (R)
• 3rd string (G): A (5)
• 2nd string (B): C (b7) (barred)
• 1st string (E): F (b3) (barred)

How to Play the Chord

To play the open Dm7 chord using two fingers, follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Index Finger: Place your index finger across the 1st fret of both the 1st string (high E string) and the 2nd string (B string). This will produce the notes F (b3) on the 1st string and C (b7) on the 2nd string.
2. Middle Finger: Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string (G string). This will produce the note A (5).

Ensure your index finger is pressing down firmly across the 1st fret of the 1st and 2nd strings to get a clear sound from both strings. The remaining string (4th) should be played open:

• 4th string (D): Open, producing the note D (R)

Strum from the 4th string down to the 1st string to play the Dm7 chord. Avoid playing the 5th string (A string) and the 6th string (E string) as they are not part of this chord voicing.

Chord Visualisation

Below is the tablature to help you visualise the Dm7 chord:

Tablature:

e|---1---| (Index Finger, barred)
B|---1---| (Index Finger, barred)
G|---2---| (Middle Finger)
D|---0---| (Open String)
A|---x---| (Do not play)
E|---x---| (Do not play)