Dmaj7 chord (D major seventh) on bass
Dmaj7 (D major seventh) has four notes: D, F sharp, A and C sharp. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, 7. In major keys, Dmaj7 is the Imaj7 chord in D major and the IVmaj7 in A major.
How to play Dmaj7 on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on D.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on D, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on D, 2 on G.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | Dmaj7 |
|---|---|
| Also written | DM7, DΔ7, DΔ |
| Notes | D F# A C# |
| Formula | 1 3 5 7 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh |
| Type | Major seventh chord |
Dmaj7 across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 2 F# (3), fret 5 A (5), fret 9 C# (7), fret 10 D (1), fret 14 F# (3), fret 17 A (5), fret 21 C# (7), fret 22 D (1).
- A string: fret 0 A (5), fret 4 C# (7), fret 5 D (1), fret 9 F# (3), fret 12 A (5), fret 16 C# (7), fret 17 D (1), fret 21 F# (3), fret 24 A (5).
- D string: fret 0 D (1), fret 4 F# (3), fret 7 A (5), fret 11 C# (7), fret 12 D (1), fret 16 F# (3), fret 19 A (5), fret 23 C# (7), fret 24 D (1).
- G string: fret 2 A (5), fret 6 C# (7), fret 7 D (1), fret 11 F# (3), fret 14 A (5), fret 18 C# (7), fret 19 D (1), fret 23 F# (3).
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Questions
What notes are in the Dmaj7 chord?
Dmaj7 (D major seventh) has four notes: D, F sharp, A and C sharp. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, 7. D is the root, F# is the major third, A is the perfect fifth and C# is the major seventh.
How do you play Dmaj7 on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 5th: 1 5, root on the E string, fret 10. Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
What key is Dmaj7 in?
In major keys, Dmaj7 is the Imaj7 chord in D major and the IVmaj7 in A major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Dmaj7 and D?
Dmaj7 is D (D, F# and A) with a major 7th added: C#.