D Minor Scale
The D minor scale (also called D natural minor or D Aeolian) contains D – E – F – G – A – Bb – C. Its key signature has 1 flat: Bb.
| Note | D | E | F | G | A | Bb | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
D minor scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to G. Left hand, going up: finger 3 crosses over the thumb to Bb. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
D minor has 1 flat: Bb. Its relative major is F major, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of D minor and of F major.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from D |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | 0 |
| 2 | E | 2 |
| b3 | F | 3 |
| 4 | G | 5 |
| 5 | A | 7 |
| b6 | Bb | 8 |
| b7 | C | 10 |
Step pattern
The Natural Minor scale is built from the pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in D Natural Minor
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in D Natural Minor.
Other modes on D
More scales on D
Natural Minor scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the D Natural Minor scale?
The D Natural Minor scale contains D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C, then returns to D an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the D minor scale on piano?
Going up from D to D, the right hand plays 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 and the left hand plays 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many flats are in D minor?
D minor has 1 flat: Bb.
What is the step pattern of the Natural Minor scale?
The Natural Minor scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the D Natural Minor scale?
The diatonic chords are Dm, Edim, F, Gm, Am, Bb, C. Each is built only from notes of the D Natural Minor scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.