Chords in the Key of D Minor
The key of D minor is built on the notes D – E – F – G – A – Bb – C. Every chord below is drawn from that scale, so they all sound at home together.
The seven chords in D minor
| Numeral | Chord | Notes | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | Dm | D F A | Minor |
| ii° | Edim | E G Bb | Diminished |
| III | F | F A C | Major |
| iv | Gm | G Bb D | Minor |
| v | Am | A C E | Minor |
| VI | Bb | Bb D F | Major |
| VII | C | C E G | Major |
Seventh chords in D minor
Adding the next third on top of each triad gives the seventh chords of the key — the harmonic vocabulary most jazz and soul writing starts from.
| Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i7 | Dm7 | D F A C |
| iiø7 | Em7b5 | E G Bb D |
| IIImaj7 | Fmaj7 | F A C E |
| iv7 | Gm7 | G Bb D F |
| v7 | Am7 | A C E G |
| VImaj7 | Bbmaj7 | Bb D F A |
| VII7 | C7 | C E G Bb |
Common chord progressions in D minor
| Numerals | Chords in D minor | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| i – VI – III – VII | Dm – Bb – F – C | A bright, anthemic minor progression. |
| i – iv – v | Dm – Gm – Am | The natural-minor equivalent of the classic cadence. |
| i – VII – VI – VII | Dm – C – Bb – C | A modal, folk-leaning loop. |
| i – iv – VII – III | Dm – Gm – C – F | Moves toward the relative major for a lift. |
Relative major key
D minor shares all of its notes with F major, so switching between the two changes the mood of a piece without changing a single note. See F major.
Scale reference
See the full D Natural Minor scale for its fingering, key signature, degrees and step pattern.
Other scales for this key: D harmonic minor, D melodic minor, D minor pentatonic and D blues.
Other keys
Frequently asked questions
What chords are in the key of D minor?
The key of D minor contains Dm, Edim, F, Gm, Am, Bb, C. These are the triads built on each degree of the D minor scale.
What is the relative major of D minor?
The relative major of D minor is F major. Both keys use exactly the same notes but resolve to a different tonic.
How many sharps or flats does D minor have?
The D minor scale is spelled D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C, which gives it 0 sharps and 1 flat.