Piano chords · Minor chord
Dm piano chord (D minor)
Dm is a minor chord with 3 notes. It sounds darker, more wistful. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
D – F – A · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Dm
Dm is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – 5):
- D, the root
- F, the minor third
- A, the fifth
Every note is a white key, which makes Dm an easy chord to find and play.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on D, 3 on F, 5 on A.
- Left hand: 5 on D, 3 on F, 1 on A.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | D – F – A |
| 1st inversion | F – A – D |
| 2nd inversion | A – D – F |
Where Dm belongs
Dm is the ii chord in C major, the iii chord in B♭ major and the vi chord in F major, and the home chord of D minor. Its relative major is F, which shares two of its notes.
D is the same chord with the middle note a half step higher (F becomes F♯), which turns it from dark to bright.
Hear it in a progression
Dm – B♭ – F – C: i – VI – III – VII, a classic minor-key progression.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the Dm chord?
Dm (D minor) is made of D, F and A: the root, minor third and fifth.
How do you play Dm on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on D, 3 on F, 5 on A, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on D, 3 on F, 1 on A.
What's the difference between Dm and D?
D is the same chord with the middle note a half step higher (F becomes F♯), which turns it from dark to bright.