Scale reference
D minor scale
D – E – F – G – A – B♭ – C
The D minor scale runs D, E, F, G, A, B♭, C and then back to D. It follows the natural minor step pattern — tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone — which is what makes it minor rather than any other kind of scale.
It uses each letter name once, which is why it is written with 1 flat.
The notes
The step pattern
Every minor scale uses the same sequence of steps. Change the starting note and the pattern is what you keep.
- D1tone
- E2semi
- F3tone
- G4tone
- A5semi
- B♭6tone
- C7tone
- D8
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Name | Interval from D | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Tonic | Perfect unison | 0 |
| 2 | E | Supertonic | Major second | 2 |
| 3 | F | Mediant | Minor third | 3 |
| 4 | G | Subdominant | Perfect fourth | 5 |
| 5 | A | Dominant | Perfect fifth | 7 |
| 6 | B♭ | Submediant | Minor sixth | 8 |
| 7 | C | Subtonic | Minor seventh | 10 |
The other two minor forms
Minor comes in three forms. They share the first five notes and differ near the top.
| Form | Notes | Why it exists |
|---|---|---|
| Natural minor | D – E – F – G – A – B♭ – C | The plain form, matching the key signature. |
| Harmonic minor | D – E – F – G – A – B♭ – C♯ | Raises the seventh degree, restoring the leading tone. |
| Melodic minor (ascending) | D – E – F – G – A – B – C♯ | Raises the sixth as well, smoothing the step-and-a-half gap. |
A piece in D minor will move between all three depending on what the harmony needs at that moment. See minor scales for how they are chosen.
Key signature
D minor is the scale of the key of D minor, which has 1 flat. The key page lists the seven chords built on these notes.