What is the D Major 7th (Dmaj7) Chord
The D major seventh chord is a four-note chord that's formed from the notes, from lowest to highest: D, F#, A and C#. Major seventh chords have an open and jazzy sound. They're frequently used by artists like Nora Jones and John Mayer.
How to Play a D Major 7th (Dmaj7) Chord on Piano Videos
Mahalo piano expert Lindsey Cloud shows you how to play a D major seventh chord.
How to Play the D Major 7th (Dmaj7) Chord
D major seventh chords sound jazzy and complicated but they're actually easy and fun to play. Start by playing a standard D major chord. Place your right thumb on D, your middle finger on F# and your little finger on A. Now, to turn it into a D Major 7th chord, cross your left hand over your right and place your left index finger on C#.
With practice, you can play the D major seventh chord with one hand. To play a Dmaj7 with your right hand, place your thumb on D, your index finger on F#, your middle finger on A and your little finger on C#. Playing 4-note chords with one hand takes practice so try not to get frustrated!
References
Meet Our Experts
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Lindsey Cloud
Meet Lindsey Cloud, one of Mahalo's piano experts. A musician in Los Angeles, she received her bachelor's degree in music from Rhodes College. She currently works as a regular studio session musician and, since 2006, has been a private piano teacher for students of all ages and skill levels.
In Theory
Major seventh chords are like major chords except that they also contain the seventh note of the corresponding major scale.
For example, D major seventh chords are formed from the first, third, fifth and seventh notes of the D major scale.
Major seventh chords are tetrads (four-note chords). They are similar to major triads (three-note chords) but have an added major seventh.c
