D minor scale

The notes of the D minor scale on a piano, the chords that belong to it, and how it sounds. Press play to hear it, tap a key or a chord, and download the scale as MIDI.

Free
No account
Runs in your browser
All twelve keys
MIDI download

D1E2Fb3G4A5Bbb6Cb7

Steps: W H W W H W W (W = whole step, H = half step)

Chords in D minor

Each chord on its own page: Dm · Edim · F · Gm · Am · Bb · C

Tap a chord to hear it. For progressions you can play and download, see chord progressions in D minor.

How D minor sounds

Darker and more serious than major. This is the natural minor scale, also called the Aeolian mode.

Used in: Most house, techno, trance, drum and bass, trap and pop ballads.

On the Camelot wheel, D minor is 7A.

Same notes, different root: F major, G Dorian, A Phrygian, Bb Lydian, C Mixolydian.

For the low end: the root of D minor is D and the fifth is A. A kick or 808 tuned to one of them sits with the bass; the kick drum tuning chart has the frequencies.

Write chords in this scale with the chord progression generator, or a melody in the synth.

Other minor scales

Play this scale with VISIONS OF TOMORROW →71 Serum 2 presets for house and techno: leads, pads, plucks, keys and basses to write in any scale. $29.

Or start with the free pack: 24 sounds from all three packs, and a 25% code for the full packs a few days later.

Questions

What notes are in the D minor scale?

D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C.

What chords are in D minor?

Dm, Edim, F, Gm, Am, Bb, C.

What is the formula for the minor scale?

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7, or in steps: W H W W H W W (W is a whole step, H a half step).

Which scales have the same notes as D minor?

F major, G Dorian, A Phrygian, Bb Lydian, C Mixolydian. They use the same seven notes, starting from a different root.

What is D minor on the Camelot wheel?

7A.