Key of D minor on Guitar: Chords and Progressions
One flat. The minor twin of F major. Traditionally called the saddest key - it does sound genuinely mournful.
The notes
D E F G A B♭ C
Find them all on the fretboard notes tool.
The chords in this key
Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get the seven chords that always sound good together in D minor. The Roman numerals are how musicians talk about them - they work in every key.
| Numeral | Chord |
|---|---|
| i | Dm |
| ii° | Edim |
| III | F |
| iv | Gm |
| v | Am |
| VI | B♭ |
| VII | C |
Progressions to try
- Dm - B♭ - F - C - epic ballad loop.
- Dm - Gm - A - dark folk and metal.
Why this matters: when someone says a song is "in D minor", these are the chords they are choosing from. Learn the I, IV, and V chords first - that is most songs.