D minor chord on piano (Dm)
Dm is D, F and A. You'll find D between the two black keys (a white key). Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.
root position · D–F–A · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- D · F · A
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5
How to play Dm on piano
Start on D, count 3 half steps up to F then 4 half steps up to A. That's the whole chord: 3 keys.
- Right hand: 1 on D, 3 on F and 5 on A.
- Left hand: 5 on D, 3 on F and 1 on A.
- On the keyboard it's white, white and white keys, the same pattern as Em and Am, so your hand shape carries over.
Dm inversions
- root position: D–F–A. RH 1-3-5.
- 1st inversion: F–A–D (F in the bass). Fingers 1-2-5.
- 2nd inversion: A–D–F, A lowest. Fingers 1-3-5.
Nobody plays every chord in root position. The inversions let Dm sit wherever the previous chord left your hand.
Moving between Dm and its neighbours
The chords Dm usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.
- G (V in C major): Dm to G: play G in 2nd inversion (D–G–B) and D stays under the same finger, while F moves up to G and A up to B. G on piano
- F (IV in C major): Dm to F: play F in 2nd inversion (C–F–A) and F and A stay under the same fingers, while D moves down to C. F on piano
- C (I in C major): Dm to C: play C in root position (C–E–G), while D moves down to C, F down to E and A down to G. C on piano
Dm has the gentle, slightly melancholy sound of a minor chord. A minor chord softens a progression. Try Dm right after D major to hear how much one note changes. The one-by-one button above makes that quality easy to hear.
Getting Dm under your fingers
Roll the chord up and back down, D, F, A, F, D, before playing it as a block. Next, walk up through D–F–A → F–A–D → A–D–F without lifting your eyes to your hand.
The keys of Dm
Dm is a minor chord, 1–♭3–5 from D. Root position, from the bottom: how Dm is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | white key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| F | white key | RH 3 · LH 3 | minor third |
| A | white key | RH 5 · LH 1 | perfect fifth |
Keys and progressions with Dm
In D minor, i–VI–III–VII on piano is Dm (D–F–A), B♭ (B♭–D–F), F (F–A–C) and C (C–E–G). About the minor anthem.
In D minor, i–iv–V on piano is Dm (D–F–A), Gm (G–B♭–D) and A (A–C♯–E). About the minor cadence.
In D minor, i–VII–VI–V on piano is Dm (D–F–A), C (C–E–G), B♭ (B♭–D–F) and A (A–C♯–E). About the Andalusian cadence.
Dm on guitar and ukulele
Dm on guitar and ukulele uses the same 3 notes in a different layout. See all three together.
Close to Dm
Other minor chords
Dm on piano: questions
What notes are in Dm on piano?
D, F and A: D (white key), F (white key) and A (white key). Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1.
How do you play Dm on piano?
Press D, F and A together, all white keys. Right hand: 1 on D, 3 on F and 5 on A.
What are the inversions of Dm?
1st inversion (F–A–D) and 2nd inversion (A–D–F), after root position (D–F–A). Each keeps all the notes of the chord.
What does Dm look like on the keyboard?
white, white and white keys, the same pattern as Em and Am, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside Dm. Updated September 2026.