D7 to G chord change
Your ring finger slides along the string; your index finger and middle finger lift and move. Your strumming hand changes too: D7 starts on the D string, G uses all six strings.
Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little finger. o means play the string open, ✕ means don’t play it.
Why this change matters
D7 to G is V7 to I in the key of G.
D7 to G is a medium-difficulty change. Going back from G to D7, make the same moves in reverse.
Chord pages: D7 · G
Finger by finger
- Lifts and movesIndex finger (1) lifts and moves from the B string, 1st fret to the A string, 2nd fret.
- Lifts and movesMiddle finger (2) lifts and moves from the G string, 2nd fret to the low E string, 3rd fret.
| Finger | On D7 | On G | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Index finger (1) | B string, 1st fret | A string, 2nd fret | Lifts and moves |
| Middle finger (2) | G string, 2nd fret | low E string, 3rd fret | Lifts and moves |
| Ring finger (3) | high e string, 2nd fret | high e string, 3rd fret | Slides |
How to practise D7 to G
- Play D7 and pick each string on its own. Fix any string that buzzes before you start changing.
- Keep the ring finger touching the string as you move. Ease the pressure, glide, then press again. Lifting it off loses your place.
- Lead with the middle finger. In G it plays the lowest note (the low E string, 3rd fret), which is the first string you strum, so aim it there first and let the other fingers follow.
- Do “ghost changes”: switch from D7 to G and back 20 times without strumming. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, and land them all together.
- Now strum: four strums on D7, four on G. When that is clean, try two strums each, then one.
- Time yourself with the trainer below: one minute, counting every clean change. Do it once a day and watch the number climb.
An easier way to play it
D7 to G (G with ring, middle and little finger): fewer fingers have to travel. It is the same pair of chords, just fingered so the change is shorter.
- Lifts offIndex finger (1) lifts off (it was on the B string, 1st fret).
- Moves across, same fretMiddle finger (2) moves across from the G string to the A string, staying on the 2nd fret.
- Lifts and movesRing finger (3) lifts and moves from the high e string, 2nd fret to the low E string, 3rd fret.
- Goes downLittle finger (4) goes down on the high e string, 3rd fret.
One-minute D7 to G trainer
Press Start, hold D7 through the count-in, then change back and forth for one minute. Tap the big button (or press the space bar) every time you land a clean chord. Your best score is kept.
Want other chords? Open the full chord change trainer.
Songs that use D7 to G
These songs in our free song library change between D7 and G. Each one has a play-along that counts you in and lights up the chord to play.
D7 to G: questions
Which finger stays down when you change from D7 to G?
No finger stays in exactly the same place, but your ring finger can slide along the string instead of lifting. Your ring finger slides along the string; your index finger and middle finger lift and move.
How do I change from D7 to G faster?
Practise the change on its own, not inside a song. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, land them all at once, and lead with the finger that has the longest trip. Then do one minute of changes a day with a timer and count them. If it still feels slow, try the easier version: D7 to G.
How many D7 to G changes a minute is good?
Count every clean change: D7 to G is one, and back again is two. Around 30 in a minute is a solid start and enough for slow songs. At 40 most songs at a relaxed tempo start to flow, and at about 60 (one change a second) the change is ready for almost anything.
What songs use D7 and G?
In our free song library, Red River Valley use it. D7 to G is V7 to I in the key of G.
Is G to D7 the same as D7 to G?
It uses the same moves in reverse. Practise both directions: the trainer counts each switch either way.
More chord changes
Learn the chords in the right order
Fretwork’s lessons teach one chord at a time, with a ring test and a one-minute change check before you move on. The first two stages are free.