Chords in the key of D minor

The key of D minor (natural minor) has the notes D, E, F, G, A, B♭, and C and the chords Dm, E°, F, Gm, Am, B♭, and C. In practice the V and vii° come from the harmonic minor scale, with the leading tone C♯: A (A7) and C♯°. Key signature: 1 flat (B♭). Relative major: F major.

D
E
F
G
A
B♭
C

Natural minor

The scale of the key signature. Fine for melodies, but the v is minor (Am) and barely pulls back to the tonic.

Degree	Triad	Seventh chord	Function
i	Dm	Dm7	tonic
ii°	E°	Em7(♭5)	subdominant
III	F	F7M	tonic
iv	Gm	Gm7	subdominant
v	Am	Am7	dominant
VI	B♭	B♭7M	subdominant
VII	C	C7	dominant

Each chord in the table opens its guitar page, with the diagram and the sound.

Harmonic minor (the V7 and vii°)

The 7th note is raised a half step (C♯): the V becomes major (A, or A7 with the seventh) and the vii becomes diminished (C♯°). These are the chords minor-key songs use to get back to the tonic.

Degree	Triad	Seventh chord	Function
i	Dm	Dm(7M)	tonic
ii°	E°	Em7(♭5)	subdominant
III+	F+	F7M(♯5)	tonic
iv	Gm	Gm7	subdominant
V	A	A7	dominant
VI	B♭	B♭7M	subdominant
vii°	C♯°	C♯°7	dominant

Melodic minor

The 6th and 7th are raised a half step: the ii becomes minor (Em) and the IV becomes major (G). Common in jazz and in rising melodies.

Degree	Triad	Seventh chord	Function
i	Dm	Dm(7M)	tonic
ii	Em	Em7	subdominant
III+	F+	F7M(♯5)	tonic
IV	G	G7	subdominant
V	A	A7	dominant
vi°	B°	Bm7(♭5)	subdominant
vii°	C♯°	C♯m7(♭5)	dominant

The chords of D minor on the piano

What each chord does

Tonic (Dm and F) feels at rest; subdominant (E°, Gm, and B♭) moves away from home; dominant (A and C♯°) builds tension and wants to go back to Dm.

Common progressions in D minor

Listen to each one and open it in the backing track to play along.

Andalusian cadence
i–VII–VI–V

A dramatic descent from flamenco, widely used in rock and Latin music.
- Dm
- C
- B♭
- A
Play it in the backing track
Basic minor
i–iv–V7

Im–IVm–V7: the essentials of a minor key; the V7 brings the tension of the harmonic minor scale.
- Dm
- Gm
- A7
Play it in the backing track
IIm7(♭5)–V7–Im
iiø7–V7–i7

The jazz and bolero cadence in a minor key.
Play it in the backing track
Epic minor pop
i–VI–III–VII

Im–♭VI–♭III–♭VII: a grand chorus in a minor key.
- Dm
- B♭
- F
- C
Play it in the backing track

Relative and parallel keys

Relative major: F major. Both scales have the same notes and the same key signature (1 flat (B♭)).

Parallel key: D major, with the same tonic and the other mode. Switching between them mid-song changes the mood without moving the home note.

Neighbours on the circle of fifths: G minor (a fifth below) and A minor (a fifth above). Modulating to them sounds natural.

Circle of fifths

D minor is highlighted. Clockwise, each step goes up a fifth and adds a sharp; counter-clockwise, a flat. The relative minors are on the inside. Tap a key to see its chords.

Scales and tools for D minor

D natural minor scale on guitar D harmonic minor scale on guitar D melodic minor scale on guitar Transpose a chord chart to another key Play in D minor with easy shapes: A minor shapes with the capo on the 5th fret

Chords in other keys

Major keys

Minor keys

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the key of D minor?

Dm, E°, F, Gm, Am, B♭, and C. As seventh chords: Dm7, Em7(♭5), F7M, Gm7, Am7, B♭7M, and C7.

What is the relative of D minor?

F major. Both scales have the same notes and the same key signature: 1 flat (B♭).

What is the key signature of D minor?

D minor has 1 flat (B♭) in its key signature.

Why is the V chord major in D minor?

In the natural minor scale the v chord is minor (Am) and barely pulls to the tonic. Raising the 7th note a half step (C♯, the leading tone) gives the harmonic minor scale, and the V becomes A (A7), which resolves strongly to Dm.

What chord progressions work in D minor?

The most common: i–VII–VI–V: Dm C B♭ A; i–iv–V7: Dm Gm A7; iiø7–V7–i7: Em7(♭5) A7 Dm7; i–VI–III–VII: Dm B♭ F C.