Chord progressions in D minor

The seven chords of D minor and the progressions producers use most, all spelled out in D minor. Press play to hear any of them, download the MIDI, or open one in the generator to change it.

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The chords in D minor

Notes: D E F G A Bb C · D minor scale · Relative major: F major

Tap a chord to hear it. Each on its own page: Dm · Edim · F · Gm · Am · Bb · C

The minor anthem loop

D minor
DmiBbVIFIIICVII

i, VI, III, VII. The minor four-chord loop behind a huge share of house, EDM and pop.

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Epic minor

D minor
DmiCVIIBbVICVII

i, VII, VI, VII. Rising and falling around the tonic, a staple of film music and trance.

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Minor with a lift

D minor
DmiGmivCVIIFIII

i, iv, VII, III. Starts dark and ends on a major chord, so the loop always wants to go round again.

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The epic cadence

D minor
BbVICVIIDmi

VI, VII, i. Two major chords climbing into the minor tonic: a classic way to land a big chorus or a drop.

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Two-chord minor

D minor
DmiCVII

i to VII. Two chords leave room for the groove; common in tech house, techno and hip hop.

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Minor sevenths

D minor
Dm7i7Gm7iv7

i7 to iv7. Soft and moody, with the colour in the sevenths. At home in deep house and lo-fi.

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Stepping down

D minor
DmiCVIIBbVIAmv

i, VII, VI, v. Walking down the scale from the tonic, a natural-minor version of the descending Andalusian cadence.

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Using these progressions

  • D minor and F major use the same notes, so progressions from either work in the same track.
  • Keep the bass on the root of each chord and play the chords above it, the way these progressions are voiced.
  • For house and techno, try the chords as short stabs on the offbeat; for pads, hold each chord for a whole bar.

Every progression on the site, in every key, as MIDI in one zip: free MIDI chord progressions.

More chord progressions

Chord progressions by key

Play these chords with VISIONS OF TOMORROW →71 Serum 2 presets for house and techno, with pads, keys, plucks and stabs made for chords like these. $29.

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Questions

What chords are in D minor?

Dm, Edim, F, Gm, Am, Bb, C. The second chord, Edim, is diminished, so most progressions leave it out.

What is the relative major of D minor?

F major. The two keys share every note.

What are common chord progressions in D minor?

Dm Bb F C (the minor anthem loop); Dm C Bb C (epic minor); Dm Gm C F (minor with a lift).

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