D minor
D minor is the minor key with the tonic D and one flat, B♭. Its relative key is F major. It lies directly next to A minor on the circle of fifths and is, on the guitar, the common third minor key after E minor and A minor.
The key with one flat
D minor has the same key signature as F major: one flat. The natural minor scale begins on the sixth degree of the relative. That holds here too: D–E–F–G–A–B♭–C. In harmonic minor the seventh degree is raised to C♯, so that a leading tone arises and the dominant becomes the major triad A.
Natural D minor
The same notes as F major, played from D. The B♭ is in the key signature.
Harmonic D minor
The seventh degree is raised to C♯, the leading tone. Between B♭ and C♯ the augmented second arises.
Cadence in D minor
The page Cadences analyses a four-part closing phrase in D minor on the chorale melody “O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden” (melody Hans Leo Hassler). The phrase is in minor but ends on a major chord: D minor becomes D major as the third of the final chord is raised to F♯, the Picardy third. The closing cadence goes from the subdominant through the dominant to the tonic.
The chords of D minor
The seven degrees yield Dm, E°, F, Gm, Am, B♭ and C. In the change to D major, the parallel key, three notes change at once: F, B♭ and C become F♯, B and C♯.
A piece in D minor
Piano
-
Invention Nr. 4 d-Moll Johann Sebastian Bach, BWV 775, from: Two-Part Inventions · piano
3/8 with one flat in the key signature. Already in bar 2 there is a C♯ as an accidental, the leading tone of D minor.
Common mistakes
- Confusing D minor and F major: Both have one flat. The ending decides.
- Forgetting the C♯: In harmonic minor it appears as an accidental, not in the key signature.
- Spelling: Write the note letter as a capital and the mode word in lowercase: “D minor”, “D major”.
Continue on Maikstrings
Related terms
MinorF majorA minorD majorG minorKeyRelative keyNatural minorHarmonic minorCircle of fifths
Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026
← Back to the glossary