Chords in D minor
Dm · Edim · F · Gm · Am · B♭ · C
i ii° III iv v VI VII · key signature B♭ · scale D E F G A B♭ C
Dm — minor chord on degree 1 · inversions and fingering
Chord table for D minor
| Degree | Triad | Notes | 7th chord | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| i | Dm | D – F – A | Dm7 | tonic |
| ii° | Edim | E – G – B♭ | Em7♭5 | predominant |
| III | F | F – A – C | Fmaj7 | tonic (relative major) |
| iv | Gm | G – B♭ – D | Gm7 | predominant |
| v | Am | A – C – E | Am7 | dominant |
| VI | B♭ | B♭ – D – F | B♭maj7 | predominant |
| VII | C | C – E – G | C7 | subtonic |
In practice, minor-key music usually borrows from harmonic minor: raising the 7th note turns Am into A (V), which pulls far more strongly back to Dm, and gives a diminished C♯dim (vii°).
Common progressions in D minor
- Dm – C – B♭ – A i–♭VII–♭VI–V · Andalusian
- Dm – B♭ – F – C i–♭VI–♭III–♭VII · Epic minor
- Edim – A – Dm – Dm ii°–V–i–i · Minor ii–V–i
Related keys
Relative major: F major (same notes). Parallel major: D major (same tonic). See the D minor scale on piano or its place on the circle of fifths.
Other minor keys
Chords in D minor: questions
What chords are in the key of D minor?
The seven diatonic chords of D minor are Dm (i), Edim (ii°), F (III), Gm (iv), Am (v), B♭ (VI), C (VII).
What are the 7th chords in D minor?
Dm7 (i7), Em7♭5 (iiø7), Fmaj7 (IIImaj7), Gm7 (iv7), Am7 (v7), B♭maj7 (VImaj7), C7 (VII7).
What are the three main chords in D minor?
The primary chords are Dm (i), Gm (iv) and A (V, from harmonic minor) or Am (v). Together they contain every note of the scale.
How many sharps or flats does D minor have?
1 flat: B♭.
What is the relative major of D minor?
F major, which uses the same notes and key signature.