stringery

D minor

Natural minor, also called aeolian. Minor family

Sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

Root position4 of 5

35791215

Square: the root. In colour: the flat 6th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. DRW
  2. E2H
  3. F♭3W
  4. G4W
  5. A5H
  6. B♭♭6W
  7. C♭7W

The flat 3rd makes it minor, and the flat 6th is what makes it sound sad rather than just dark.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckD minor

12345EADGBE357912152♭345♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭7R2♭34
12345EADGBE357912152♭345♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭7R2♭34

Position 4 is outlined, frets 9 to 13. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The D minor key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. Dmi
  2. Edimii°
  3. FIII
  4. Gmiv
  5. Amv
  6. B♭VI
  7. CVII

Its neighbours on the circle of fifths Capo and transpose

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • F major

    Same notes, but home is F: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • G dorian

    Same notes, but home is G: minor but hopeful. cool and groovy.

  • C mixolydian

    Same notes, but home is C: major and laid-back, with swagger.

  • B♭ lydian

    Same notes, but home is B♭: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • A phrygian

    Same notes, but home is A: dark, spanish, menacing.