D Minor Scale
The D minor scale has seven notes: D, E, F, G, A, B♭ and C. It has 1 flat (B♭), and it is the relative minor of F major.
Notes
- D1
- E2
- F♭3
- G4
- A5
- B♭♭6
- C♭7
Step pattern: W – H – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step)
| Degree | Note | Interval from D |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Root |
| 2 | E | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | F | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | G | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | A | Perfect 5th |
| ♭6 | B♭ | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | C | Minor 7th |
On the piano
On the guitar
Root Scale tone
Key signature
D minor has 1 flat: B♭. See it on the circle of fifths →
Chords in the key of D minor
| Numeral | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | Dm | Dm7 |
| ii° | Edim | Em7♭5 |
| III | F | Fmaj7 |
| iv | Gm | Gm7 |
| v | Am | Am7 |
| VI | B♭ | B♭maj7 |
| VII | C | C7 |
Common progressions
- Classic minorDm – Gm – Ami – iv – v
- Epic / pop minorDm – B♭ – F – Ci – VI – III – VII
- DescendingDm – C – B♭ – Ami – VII – VI – v
Related scales
Practise it
- Alternate picking on one stringTechnique · moved up 5 frets into D
- Palm-muted gallopMetal · moved up 10 frets into D
Explore it on the full fretboard · Piano scale explorer · Metronome