Dm guitar chord
The D minor chord: every way to play it on the neck, the notes in it, and the scales that sound good over it.
What's in Dm
- Notes
- D – F – A
- Formula
- 1 – b3 – 5
- Name
- D minor
DmD · F · A
3 ways to play it · Tuning E A D G B E
- Open
- A shape · 5th fret
- E shape · 10th fret
What to play over Dm
Start with the chord's own notes — D, F, A — and land on them on the strong beats. Then reach for a scale; which one depends on the chord's job in the song.
- D minor pentatonic scale
The safe start, and the sound of most rock and blues solos.
- D Dorian mode
A minor with a brighter 6th — when the chord is a ii.
- D natural minor scale
The natural minor, when the chord is the song’s home chord (i).
- D Phrygian mode
Dark and Spanish-sounding, with the ♭2 — when the chord is a iii.
Questions
What notes are in a Dm chord?
Dm has 3 notes: D, F, A. Counted from the root, its formula is 1 – b3 – 5.
What scale goes with Dm?
D minor pentatonic scale is the place to start. The safe start, and the sound of most rock and blues solos.