Chord Colors

D♯ Natural Minor scale

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.

Learn more about the D♯ Natural Minor scale

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
Position 2 of 3

D sharp minor over F sharp (1st inversion)

ii° E sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

E sharp diminished over G sharp (1st inversion)

III F sharp
Position 2 of 3

F sharp over A sharp (1st inversion)

iv G sharp minor
Position 2 of 3

G sharp minor over B (1st inversion)

v A sharp minor
Position 2 of 3

A sharp minor over C sharp (1st inversion)

VI B
Position 2 of 3

B over D sharp (1st inversion)

VII C sharp
Position 2 of 3

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.

Common
Common

Notes and intervals

1D#D♯Root
2E#E♯Major 2nd
3F#F♯Minor 3rd
4G#G♯Perfect 4th
5A#A♯Perfect 5th
6BBMinor 6th
7C#C♯Minor 7th
StepsW H W W H W W
Semitones2-1-2-2-1-2-2
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Fingering

Standard fingering

Hand D sharpE sharpF sharpG sharpA sharpBC sharpD sharp
Right hand31234123
Left hand21432132

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

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Natural Minor in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

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Eb Natural Minor scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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