D Minor
Key Signature
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tonic | D |
| Mode | Minor |
| Accidentals | 1 flat |
| Key Signature Notes | Bb |
D minor has one flat (Bb) and is one of the most dramatic and expressive minor keys. It has a long history in Western music from baroque to modern, often conveying sadness or tragedy.
Diatonic Chords
The seven diatonic chords of D Minor — each built on a scale degree using only the notes of the key signature:
| Degree | Roman Numeral | Chord Type | Chord |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | Minor | D Minor |
| 2 | ii° | Diminished | E Diminished |
| 3 | III | Major | F Major |
| 4 | iv | Minor | G Minor |
| 5 | v | Minor | A Minor |
| 6 | VI | Major | A# Major |
| 7 | VII | Major | C Major |
Related Keys
- Relative Major
- F Major — shares the same key signature.
- Parallel Major
- D Major — same tonic, different key signature.
See all key relationships on the Circle of Fifths.
Scales in D Minor
Common scales built from the D tonic:
Transposing Instrument Context
Bb instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone) read in E minor to sound D Minor. Eb instruments (alto saxophone, Eb clarinet) read in B minor to sound D Minor. Flat-key signatures are particularly comfortable for woodwind instruments designed around Bb and Eb transpositions.