Notes and intervals of D♯ minor
- D♯1 · root
- F♯♭3 · minor third
- A♯5 · perfect fifth
It shows up in ballads, boleros, pasillos and almost all popular music; in a major key it's usually the relative chord or the second degree.
Progressions with D♯m
Minor with a dominant: i – iv – V7 – i
The V7 comes from the harmonic minor scale and is typical of boleros, pasillos and ballads.
Modern minor: i – VI – III – VII
A very common progression in pop and rock, in D♯ natural minor.
Which keys contain D♯ minor?
D♯m belongs to 6 keys: in each one it plays a different role depending on the degree (the Roman numeral).
| Key | Degree |
|---|---|
| D♭ major | ii |
| F♯ major | vi |
| B major | iii |
| D♯ natural minor | i |
| G♯ natural minor | v |
| B♭ natural minor | iv |
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the D-sharp minor chord?
D♯ minor (D♯m) has 3 notes: D♯ (root), F♯ (minor third), A♯ (perfect fifth).
How do you play D♯ minor on guitar?
The most common shape uses a barre at fret 6: x 6 8 8 7 6 (from the 6th to the 1st string). Barre fret 6 with your index finger, from the 5th to the 1st string. Place finger 3 (ring) at fret 8 on the 4th string (D). Finger 4 (pinky) goes at fret 8 on the 3rd string (G). Finger 2 (middle) goes at fret 7 on the 2nd string (B). Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.
Is D♯m the same as E♭m?
Yes: D♯ minor and E♭ minor sound the same and are played the same way (they are enharmonic). The spelling depends on the song's key; you'll see both names in sheet music and songbooks.
What is the difference between D♯ minor and E♭ major?
Only the third changes: D♯ minor uses F♯, and E♭ major uses G. That note makes the chord sound darker (minor) or brighter (major).
How do you write D♯ minor in chord notation?
It's written D♯m; you'll also see D♯min or D♯-. Letter notation uses these note names: C = do, D = re, E = mi, F = fa, G = sol, A = la, and B = si.