Chords in the Key of D Minor

The key of D minor has 7 chords: Dm, E°, F, Gm, Am, B♭ and C. Songs in D minor often use A too. Play them, see them with 7ths and numbers, and try common progressions.

D minor: 1 flat (B♭)

Scale: D E F G A B♭ C · Relative major: F major

The 7 chords in the key of D minor (natural minor). Press a chord to hear it.
ChordRomanNashvilleFunction
i6mtonic
ii°7°predominant
III1tonic
iv2mpredominant
v3mdominant
VI4tonic or predominant
VII5dominant
V3dominant (harmonic minor)

Common progressions in D minor

  • i–VI–III–VIIDm B♭ F C
  • i–iv–VDm Gm A Dm
  • Andalusian cadenceDm C B♭ A
  • i–VII–VI–VIIDm C B♭ C
  • i–iv–VII–IIIDm Gm C F
  • iiø–V–iEm7♭5 A7 Dm7
  • i–VI–VIIDm B♭ C Dm

Guitar chords in D minor

  • Dm i · xx0231
    Dm guitar chord: xx0231231
  • E° ii° · xx23x3
    E° guitar chord: xx23x3123
  • F III · 133211
    F guitar chord: 1332111342
  • Gm iv · 310033
    Gm guitar chord: 3100332134
  • Am v · x02210
    Am guitar chord: x02210231
  • B♭ VI · x13331
    B♭ guitar chord: x133311234
  • C VII · x32010
    C guitar chord: x32010321
  • A V · x02220
    A guitar chord: x02220123

Key signature and scale

D minor has 1 flat (B♭). The D minor scale is D – E – F – G – A – B♭ – C.

Its relative major is F major: same signature, same chords, a different home chord. Next to it on the circle of fifths are A minor (one more sharp or one less flat) and G minor (one more flat or one less sharp); songs often move to these keys.

Progressions in D minor

ProgressionIn D minor
i–VI–III–VIIDm B♭ F C
i–iv–VDm Gm A Dm
Andalusian cadenceDm C B♭ A
i–VII–VI–VIIDm C B♭ C

Press Play in the tool above to hear them, or Transpose to move a progression to another key. Need these chords in another key? Use the transposition chart.

Chords in other keys

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the key of D minor?

The seven chords are Dm, E°, F, Gm, Am, B♭ and C (i, ii°, III, iv, v, VI, VII). Songs in D minor often use A too, the major V chord from the harmonic minor scale.

How many sharps or flats does D minor have?

D minor has 1 flat: B♭. Its scale is D E F G A B♭ C.

What is the relative major of D minor?

F major. The two keys share the same key signature and the same seven chords; they differ in which chord feels like home.

Which chords in D minor are hard on guitar, and can a capo help?

Played without a capo the main chords are Dm, Gm, B♭, C, A. With a capo on fret 5 you can play Am shapes instead: Am, Dm, F, G, E, and it still sounds in D minor.

What is the V chord in D minor?

In natural minor it is Am, but minor-key songs often use A (or A7) to lead back to Dm.

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