D minor scale on guitar
The D minor scale has seven notes: D, E, F, G, A, B♭ and C (1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7). The plain minor scale: the minor pentatonic with the 2nd and ♭6 filled in. Sad or serious, and the home of minor-key rock and metal, over changes like Am, F and G.
| Note | D | E | F | G | A | B♭ | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
| Step to the next | whole | half | whole | whole | half | whole | whole |
5 positions to learn it in
On guitar a seven-note scale is learnt in five shapes, each built round one of the open chord shapes C, A, G, E and D. Together they cover the neck. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the D minor scale
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; D (Dm) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (D) | Dmhome | Dm7home |
| 2 (E) | Edimthe edge | Em7♭5the edge |
| ♭3 (F) | Fdaylight | Fmaj7daylight |
| 4 (G) | Gmsoft fall | Gm7soft fall |
| 5 (A) | Amsoft fall | Am7soft fall |
| ♭6 (B♭) | B♭cinematic | B♭maj7cinematic |
| ♭7 (C) | Cheroic | C7heroic |
Scales with the same notes
Its relative major is the F major scale: the same notes, started from F.
The chords of this key, to hear and play: chords in the key of D minor.
Questions
What notes are in the D minor scale?
D, E, F, G, A, B♭ and C. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7, and the steps between its notes are W H W W H W W (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the D minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: Dm, Edim, F, Gm, Am, B♭ and C, and as seventh chords Dm7, Em7♭5, Fmaj7, Gm7, Am7, B♭maj7 and C7. D is home: Dm is the chord it sounds most settled over.
What is the relative major of the D minor scale?
The F major scale, which has the same notes started from F.
The minor scale in every key
Other scales in D
D majorD minor pentatonicD major pentatonicD bluesD DorianD MixolydianD LydianD PhrygianD harmonic minorD melodic minorD Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.