Dm chord on piano
The Dm chord, or D minor, stacks 3 notes on D: D, F and A. Musicians write its formula 1 ♭3 5.
Notes and intervals of Dm
Each note of Dm has a job. Counted from the root, you get root (D), minor 3rd (F) and perfect 5th (A). Change one of these intervals and you get a different chord, which is why the formula 1 ♭3 5 is worth memorising rather than the shape alone.
| Degree | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | root | D |
| ♭3 | minor 3rd | F |
| 5 | perfect 5th | A |
How to play Dm on piano
Put your right-hand thumb on D, then add the other notes: D, F and A. Teachers usually suggest the fingering 1-3-5 (left hand: 5-3-1). Press the keys together, release, and repeat until the chord sounds even.
Inversions of Dm
An inversion keeps the same notes but puts another one in the bass. Dm has 2 inversions besides root position: 1st inversion (F A D) and 2nd inversion (A D F). Inversions let you move between chords with tiny hand movements, which is how pianists make progressions sound smooth.
Which keys use Dm?
Dm appears naturally in 3 major keys: F major (vi), C major (ii) and B flat major (iii). In F major it is the vi chord, so you will meet it in many songs written in that key and in its relative minor.
Scales to play over Dm
These scales share every note of Dm: D natural minor scale, D harmonic minor scale, D melodic minor scale, D minor pentatonic scale, D blues scale, D Dorian mode and D Phrygian mode. D natural minor scale is the safest choice; the others add more colour.
About minor chords
The minor chord swaps the major third for a minor third: 1 ♭3 5. That single semitone makes the sound darker, softer and more inward. Minor does not have to mean sad: in funk, Latin music or rock it can sound tough or cool, and it can end a piece just as convincingly as a major chord.
It is the tonic of minor keys (i) and appears on ii, iii and vi in major keys. Typical moves: i iv V (the major V borrowed from harmonic minor), i ♭VI ♭VII, and vi IV I V. Every major chord has a relative minor a minor third below that shares two of its notes.
Take the major chord and lower the middle note by one semitone. Fingering 1 3 5 in the right hand, 5 3 1 in the left. Practise all three positions (root position, first and second inversion), then play a minor progression such as i iv V choosing the closest inversion each time, keeping common notes under the same fingers.
Reading the symbol wrong is common: 'm' or '-' means minor, while 'M' or 'maj' means major, so Am and AM are different chords. On guitar, the minor third often lies on a string that is easy to mute in a barre. And m is not m7: the 7 adds a fourth note, the minor seventh.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Dm chord?
Dm (D minor) contains D, F and A. In intervals: root (D), minor 3rd (F) and perfect 5th (A).
How do you play Dm on piano?
Play D, F and A together with the right-hand fingering 1-3-5. You can also play it in 2 inversions, shown on this page.
What scale goes with Dm?
D natural minor scale fits Dm best. Other scales that contain all its notes: D harmonic minor scale, D melodic minor scale, D minor pentatonic scale, D blues scale, D Dorian mode and D Phrygian mode.
What key is Dm in?
Dm belongs to F major (vi), C major (ii) and B flat major (iii). In F major it is the vi chord.
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