D♯ Minor Scale (D#)
The D# minor scale (also called D# natural minor or D# Aeolian) contains D# – E# – F# – G# – A# – B – C#. Its key signature has 6 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A# and E#. It uses the same piano keys as Eb minor, spelled Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db (6 flats).
| Note | D# | E# | F# | G# | A# | B | C# | D# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
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 E# and B. Left hand, going up: finger 4 crosses over the thumb to F# and finger 3 crosses over the thumb to C#. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
D# minor has 6 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A# and E#. Its relative major is F# major, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of Eb 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 | B | 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.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | D#m | D# F# A# |
| 2 | ii° | E#dim | E# G# B |
| 3 | III | F# | F# A# C# |
| 4 | iv | G#m | G# B D# |
| 5 | v | A#m | A# C# E# |
| 6 | VI | B | B D# F# |
| 7 | VII | C# | C# E# G# |
Other modes on Eb (the same keys as D#)
More scales on Eb (the same keys as 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#, B, 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 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 and the left hand plays 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many sharps are in D# minor?
D# minor has 6 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A# and E#.
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 D#m, E#dim, F#, G#m, A#m, B, 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.