What is the tonic of D minor?

The scale-degree chords of D minor are: Tonic – D minor . Supertonic – E diminished. Mediant – F major.

How many flats are in D minor?

Therefore, the key signature for D minor has only one flat : Bb. If a piece is using the harmonic or melodic forms of the minor scale, the "extra" accidentals are NOT included in the key signature.

What are all the notes in D minor scale?

D – E – F – G – A – B♭ – C – D are the notes of the D minor scale.

What is the finger position for D minor?

The standard way to play the Dm chord starts on the 1st fret: Place your index (or 1st finger) on the 1st fret of the first string (high E). Then, place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the third (G) string. Finally, place your ring finger (3rd finger) on the 3rd fret of the second (B) string. More items...

What is the major key for D minor?

The relative major key of D minor is F major and the seventh note of D minor is C. Therefore, D harmonic minor has one flat (B♭) and C is raised to C♯.

What is the chord progression for D minor scale?

D Minor Chord Progressions The original Fantastic Four are C, G, F, and Am. They all belong in C Major as the I, V, IV, and vi diatonic chords, respectively. But there's a version of these four chords in all keys. In D Minor, your magical four chords are Dm, B♭, Gm, and A .

What is the formula for the minor scale?

Each minor scale is an ordered collection of half and whole steps, as follows: Natural minor: W‑H‑W‑W‑H‑W‑W (ascending) Harmonic minor: W‑H‑W‑W‑H‑3Hs‑H (ascending) Melodic minor: W‑H‑W‑W‑W‑W‑H (ascending) and W‑W‑H‑W‑W‑H‑W (descending) .

What emotion is the D minor chord?

In classical music, D minor is often used to convey a sense of tragedy or sorrow , while in rock and pop music, D minor has been used to create emotional intensity. Despite its reputation for being a sad or melancholic key, D minor can also convey tension, aggression, and other emotions.

What is the 3 chord in D minor?

D minor triad consists of three notes: D natural, F natural and A natural . In root position, or when the name of the chord is on the bottom, the interval between D and F is a minor third, while the interval between F and A is a major third.

Is D minor the same as F major?

For example, you can use D minor as a relative minor key to F major, which shares the same key signature . This means that the notes in D minor and F major are the same, but the tonal center is different.

What's the difference between D major and D minor?

D major is on the left, D minor is on the right . As you can see, the D minor chord moves the finger on the first string down by a half step. This changes the major third to a minor third, and gives us the three notes—D, F and A—that make up the chord.

Playing the D Minor Scale: Piano Tutorial with Video (2024)

Learn how to play the D natural minor piano scale! Explore notes, chords, finger positions, and fun songs in the key of D minor

Are you interested in learning how to play the D natural minor scale on piano? This scale is incredibly common in modern popular, film, jazz, and classical music, so knowing it can unlock a lot of pieces for you! Let’s start learning how to play the D minor scale on the piano and what pieces or songs you can learn in this key.

Want a great resource for learning scales on piano?Download our free Guide to Major and Minor Scales now. To learn more about all kinds of piano scales, check out our! For more piano resources, sign up for ourPremium membership!

What does it mean when a song is in the key of D minor?

When a song is in the key of D minor, it means that the composition revolves around the D minor scale as its tonal center. This tonal center may also be referred to as the tonic or root.

When a song is in the key of D minor, it often starts and resolves on the note D, giving the music a sense of stability and completion.

What are the notes of the D minor piano scale?

The D minor scale consists of the following notes: D, E, F, G, A, Bb, and C.

The key signature of D minor has one flat, which is Bb. This means that every time the note B is written in the music, it should be lowered a half step to Bb unless otherwise indicated.

What is the relative major of D minor?

In music theory, the relative major scale has the same key signature as its relative minor scale. A relative major starts on the third note (or degree) of the minor scale. So the relative major of D minor is F major.

How to play the natural D minor scale on piano

To play the D minor scale on the piano as a Pentascale (using only the bottom five notes of the scale), your hands don’t have to move at all.

D minor pentascale for the right hand:

1 (thumb) on D
2 on E
3 on F
4 on G
5 (pinky) on A

D minor pentascale for the left hand:

5 (pinky) on D
4 on E
3 on F
2 on G
1 (thumb) on A

To play D minor on the piano for your right hand, place your fingers like this:

Right hand finger positions for the D minor scale on piano:

1 (thumb) on D
2 on E
3 on F
Cross thumb under
1 on G
2 on A
3 on B flat
4 on C
5 (pinky) on D

Left hand finger positions for the D minor scale on piano:

5 (pinky) on D
4 on E
3 on F
2 on G
1 (thumb) on A
Cross 3 over to B flat
2 on C
1 on D

When coming down the scale, reverse the finger order like this:

Right hand:

5 (pinky) on D
4 on C
3 on B-flat
2 on A
1 (thumb) on G
Cross finger three over:
3 on F
2 on E
1 on D

Left hand:

1 (thumb) on D
2 on C
3 on B-flat
Cross thumb under:
1 on A
2 on G
3 on F
4 on E
5 (pinky) on D

Practicing the scale slowly and repeatedly will help you become comfortable with the fingering and the feel of the scale in your hand.

Want to watch and learn how to play a two octave D minor piano scale, along with D minor chords and arpeggios? Check out this lesson from Mr. Hoffman.

What are the chords of the D minor scale?

The D minor chord is the i chord, or tonic, and is made up of D – F – A.

The next chord built on E is the ii° chord, or supertonic. It is a diminished chord made up of E – G – Bb.

Our next chord is the III chord, or mediant. This one is a major chord, and has F – A – C.

The next chord is the iv chord, or subdominant. It’s a minor chord, and has G – Bb – D.

The v chord, or dominant, is a minor chord, and has the notes A – C – E.

The next chord is the VI chord, or submediant, and it’s major in quality. The notes in this chord are Bb – D – F.

The final chord in D minor is the VII chord, or subtonic, and the notes of this chord are C – E – G.

If you’d like some handy reference guides for chords and triads in all keys, download these free resources from the Hoffman Academy Store:

Complete Guide to Triads
The Ultimate Piano Chord Chart

Examples of songs in the key of D minor

Below is a list of piano pieces (or pieces adapted for the piano) that were composed in D minor.

Wild Horses (Beginner)

Etude in D Minor – Cornelius Gurlitt (Early Intermediate)

Toccata in D Minor – J.S. Bach (Intermediate)

He’s A Pirate, from Pirates of the Caribbean – Klaus Badelt (Intermediate)

The Battle, from Gladiator – Hans Zimmer (Intermediate)

Sonata in D Minor, K. 34 – Domenico Scarlatti (Intermediate)

Etude-Tableaux in D Minor – Sergei Rachmaninoff (Advanced)

“Somebody that I Used to Know” – Gotye

“Set Fire to the Rain” – Adele

“Paradise” – Coldplay

“Sparks Fly” – Taylor Swift