D# Minor

Key Signature

PropertyValue
TonicD#
ModeMinor
Accidentals6 sharps
Key Signature Notes F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#

D# minor has six sharps and is enharmonically equivalent to Eb minor. It is theoretically constructed; Eb minor is typically preferred in practice for readability.

Diatonic Chords

The seven diatonic chords of D# Minor — each built on a scale degree using only the notes of the key signature:

DegreeRoman NumeralChord TypeChord
1 i Minor D# Minor
2 ii° Diminished F Diminished
3 III Major F# Major
4 iv Minor G# Minor
5 v Minor A# Minor
6 VI Major B Major
7 VII Major C# Major

Related Keys

Relative Major
F Sharp Major — shares the same key signature.
Parallel Major
Eb Minor — 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

Sharp-key signatures like D# Minor are comfortable for open-string instruments (guitar, violin). 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. Standard guitar tuning (E A D G B E) resonates naturally in D# Minor.

Related References