Dm7 chord on ukulele

Dm7 is D, F, A and C. The usual shape is 2-2-1-3. Tap Play, then slow it down.

2-2-1-3 · movable · medium

Notes: D · F · A · C
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7
First shape: 2-2-1-3

How to play Dm7 on ukulele

Shape 1, 2-2-1-3, reading from the G string on the left:

Index finger: E string, 1st fret (F).
Middle finger: G string, 2nd fret (A).
Ring finger: C string, 2nd fret (D).
Pinky: A string, 3rd fret (C).

This shape uses your pinky. It feels weak at first; press with the tip and let the finger stay curved.
On ukulele you strum all four strings. The top G string is tuned higher than the C, which is why ukulele chords sound bright and close.

Other ways to play Dm7

5-5-5-5: movable shape at the 5th fret, medium. A different set of strings gives a different color of the same chord.
10-12-10-12: movable shape at the 10th fret, medium. Higher up the neck it sounds brighter; handy when another guitar is already playing a lower shape.

Dm7 the capo way

A capo turns an open chord into Dm7: capo on the 3rd fret and play the open Bm7 shape (2-2-2-2) or capo on the 5th fret and play the open Am7 shape (0-0-0-0). Handy when the rest of the song's chords also have open shapes in that position.

Moving between Dm7 and its neighbours

Songs rarely hold Dm7 for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

G7 (V in C major): Dm7 (2-2-1-3) to G7 (0-2-1-2): your index finger stays put, the middle finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 2nd fret. Listen for D and F, which stay put while the rest moves. G7 on ukulele
Fmaj7 (IV in C major): Dm7 (2-2-1-3) to Fmaj7 (2-4-1-3): your index and middle fingers stay put, the ring finger goes to the A string, 3rd fret, the pinky finger goes to the C string, 4th fret. Shared notes: F, A and C. Fmaj7 on ukulele
Cmaj7 (I in C major): Dm7 (2-2-1-3) to Cmaj7 (0-0-0-2): the index finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret. Listen for C, which stays put while the rest moves. Cmaj7 on ukulele

Dm7 is a minor seventh chord: a minor triad plus a minor seventh. All 4 notes of Dm7 fit on the ukulele's four strings. On ukulele you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Practice Dm7 in two minutes

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: A, D, F, C. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Next, alternate 2-2-1-3 and 5-5-5-5, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Where Dm7 shows up

In C major, ii–V–I on ukulele is Dm7 (2-2-1-3), G7 (0-2-1-2) and Cmaj7 (0-0-0-2). About the jazz cadence.

Dm7 on guitar and piano

Dm7 on guitar and piano uses the same 4 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Close to Dm7

Other minor seventh chords

Dm7 on ukulele: questions

What notes are in Dm7 on ukulele?

D, F, A and C. In the 2-2-1-3 shape the strings play A (G string), D (C string), F (E string) and C (A string).

What's the easiest way to play Dm7 on ukulele?

No open-string Dm7 exists in standard tuning; 2-2-1-3 is the place to start. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and a capo is worth trying when the song allows.

Is Dm7 a barre chord on ukulele?

Not in its common form: 2-2-1-3 needs no barre.

Which string does Dm7 start on?

In the 2-2-1-3 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 2nd fret, which is A, the perfect fifth.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes D, F, A and C and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.