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D minor chord

D minor is D, F and A. It sounds darker and softer than major, the sad or serious colour.

Dm

D minor · D F A · 1 ♭3 5

DFA

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Root
Chord

Tap keys on the piano to find which chord they make. The editor opens without an account.

Notes in the D minor chord

From D, count 3 half steps up to F and 4 more to A. Its formula is 1 ♭3 5: each number is the note’s place in the D major scale, with ♭ a half step lower and ♯ a half step higher. On the piano it is all white keys.

The notes of D minor and their intervals from D
NoteFormulaIntervalHalf steps up
D1Root0
F♭3Minor third3
A5Perfect fifth7

D minor chord inversions

An inversion is the same chord with another of its notes at the bottom. It keeps the chord’s sound but moves your hand less between chords, which is why pianists use them all the time. The notes are listed lowest first.

Root position

D F A

Written Dm, with the root at the bottom.

1st inversion

F A D

Written Dm/F: F at the bottom.

2nd inversion

A D F

Written Dm/A: A at the bottom.

Keys with the D minor chord

D minor is built from the notes of these keys, so it fits songs in them. The Roman numeral says which note of the key it starts on. Each key’s page has its scale and all its chords.

Major keys
Minor keys

Chords that often come after Dm

B♭B♭ D FDm to B♭ is i to VI, the start of the classic minor loop i–VI–III–VII.GmG B♭ DDm to Gm is i to iv: darker and heavier, a ballad’s move.CC E GDm to C is i to VII, the step down that rock and film music lean on.

More piano chords

Other chords on D

DD7Dmaj7Dm7Dsus2Dsus4Dadd9D9D6DdimDm7♭5Ddim7Daug

Minor chords on other notes

CmC♯mE♭mEmFmF♯mGmG♯mAmB♭mBm

Or see every chord at once on the piano chords chart.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the D minor chord?

D minor is D, F and A. On the piano that is all white keys.

How do you play D minor on the piano?

With your right hand, put your thumb (1) on D, your middle finger (3) on F and your little finger (5) on A. With your left hand it is 5, 3 and 1 on the same notes. From D, count 3 half steps up to F and 4 more to A.

What are the inversions of D minor?

Root position: D F A. 1st inversion: F A D (Dm/F). 2nd inversion: A D F (Dm/A). The notes are the same; only the lowest one changes.

What key is D minor in?

In major keys, D minor is the vi chord in F major, the ii chord in C major and the iii chord in B♭ major. In minor keys, it is the i chord in D minor, the iv chord in A minor and the v chord in G minor.

Can I make a beat with D minor?

Yes. “Make a beat with this chord” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in D minor on Dm B♭ F C, starting on Dm. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat with D minor

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in D minor on Dm B♭ F C, starting on Dm. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat with this chordAll piano chords

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