About the D sharp Natural Minor scale
D sharp Natural Minor is used for ballads, cinematic themes and emotional rock and pop. Think of it as the classic sad, serious minor sound. It is D♯ Dorian with the sixth lowered.
Its notes are D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A♯, B, and C♯. The formula is W H W W H W W. It is the sixth mode of F♯ Major.
Also called the Aeolian mode, Melodic Minor Descending, and Asavari. The descending form of the melodic minor scale uses these same notes.
On the piano, this scale touches the black keys D♯, F♯, G♯, A♯, and C♯.
Chords in the key of D sharp Natural Minor
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i D sharp minor
D sharp minor over F sharp (1st inversion)
ii° E sharp diminished
E sharp diminished over G sharp (1st inversion)
III F sharp
F sharp over A sharp (1st inversion)
iv G sharp minor
G sharp minor over B (1st inversion)
v A sharp minor
A sharp minor over C sharp (1st inversion)
VI B
B over D sharp (1st inversion)
VII C sharp
C sharp over E sharp (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in D sharp Natural Minor
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i D sharp minor seven
D sharp minor seven
ii° E sharp minor seven flat five
E sharp minor seven flat five
III F sharp major seven
F sharp major seven
iv G sharp minor seven
G sharp minor seven
v A sharp minor seven
A sharp minor seven
VI B major seven
B major seven
VII C sharp seven
C sharp seven
Progressions in D sharp Natural Minor
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | D#D♯ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | E#E♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | F#F♯ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | G#G♯ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | A#A♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | BB | Minor 6th |
| 7 | C#C♯ | Minor 7th |
| Steps | W H W W H W W |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-1-2-2-1-2-2 |
| Degrees | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 |
Fingering
Standard fingering
| Hand | D sharp | E sharp | F sharp | G sharp | A sharp | B | C sharp | D sharp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Practicing it
The right hand changes position on E♯ and B, where the thumb crosses under. The left thumb lands on E♯ and B, and the hand crosses back over it from there. E♯ and B carry the thumb in both hands, which keeps the two crossings lined up. D♯, F♯, G♯, A♯, and C♯ are the black keys the long fingers take, and the fourth finger anchors the shape on A♯, which is what keeps the thumb clear of them.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Natural Minor in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.