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Scales

D minor scale

The D minor scale notes: D – E – F – G – A – B♭ – C. The natural minor (Aeolian): the notes of the relative major starting from its 6th degree. Darker and sadder than major.

Notes and steps

D1E2F♭3G4A5B♭♭6C♭7

Steps: W – H – W – W – H – W – W · W = whole step, H = half step

D minor scale on guitar

Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Filled circles are the root.

D minor scale on the guitar fretboardEFGAB♭CDEAB♭CDEFGADEFGAB♭CDGAB♭CDEFGCDEFGAB♭EFGAB♭CDE357912

D minor scale on piano

D minor scale on the piano keyboardCDEFGACDEFGAB♭B♭

Chords in this scale

Other scales from D

The same scale from other notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the D minor scale?

D, E, F, G, A, B♭, C. Step formula: W–H–W–W–H–W–W (W = whole step, H = half step).

How do I practise it on guitar?

Every circle on the fretboard is a note of the scale up to fret 12; the filled circles mark the root (D). Start in one position (within 4–5 frets), root to root, slowly, with a metronome.

Which chords go with it?

The chords built on its degrees: Dm, Edim, F, Gm, Am, B♭, C. More in the key of D minor.

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Photos: Isak Photography, 42 North, Rachel Loughman, Vitaly Gariev, Vitaly Gariev, Isaac Martin / Unsplash