The D sharp Minor scale is a 7 note scale that uses the following notes:
D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B and C#
The scale is usually written as starting and ending on D# and it can be repeating at higher or lower octaves. D Sharp Minor is a diatonic scale, which means that it is in a key, in this case the key of D sharp Minor!
The D sharp Natural Minor Scale
There are three types of minor scale: the natural minor, harmonic minor and melodic minor. In this post we will stick to D sharp Natural Minor Scale, but you learn about D sharp Harmonic Minor and D Sharp Melodic Minor in our other articles.
How is the d Sharp Minor scale created?
All Natural Minor scales follow a specific pattern of tones and semitones (steps and half steps). The tone pattern is:
Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone
If we take the start at a C and follow the pattern we will get the C Natural Minor Scale. To create the D sharp Natural Minor scale, follow the tone/semitone pattern starting on the note D sharp.
Whichever note you start on, you will always achieve the minor scale starting on this note.
D Sharp Minor Scale on the Piano
As you can see, if we were to play this scale on the piano diagram we would use six black keys for each octave of the scale (including both D# notes). You might also spot that E# is actually the same as a F natural.
To play this scale on the piano use the fingers written below. this is the right hand fingerings.
D sharp Minor Scale on the Guitar
To play the D sharp Minor scale on the guitar use the tab below.
Degrees of the Scale: D Sharp Natural Minor
Each note in the D sharp Natural Minor scale has a position that we call the degree of the scale. The first note of the scale is called the ‘tonic’ note.
Key Signature for D sharp Minor
Rather than writing the sharp signs on the individual notes, we can now make use of the key signature. D sharp Minor is the relative minor of F Sharp Major. You can work this out because D# is the sixth note of F# Major.
This means that they both share a key signature and have six sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A# and E#.
D Sharp Natural Minor Scale in Different Clefs
Treble Clef
Below is the D sharp Natural Minor Scale written out in the treble clef, both ascending and descending.
Bass Clef
Below is the D sharp Natural Minor Scale written out in the bass clef, both ascending and descending.
Alto Clef
Below is the D sharp Natural Minor Scale written out in the alto clef, both ascending and descending.
Tenor Clef
Below is the D sharp Natural Minor Scale written out in the tenor clef, both ascending and descending.
What is the Relative Major of D Sharp Minor
As you can see from the circle of fifths diagram D sharp Minor is the relative minor of F sharp Major. Or to say it another way: F# Major is the relative major of D# Minor. This means that F# Major and D# Minor share the same key signature and have 6 sharps.
This means that both scale are identical except for the fact that D sharp Minor starts on D# and F sharp Major starts on F#.
Enharmonic Equivalent Scales
D# Minor and Eb Minor are enharmonic equivalent scales. This means that they share all the same notes, but just written using enharmonic equivalent notes. You can see this below in the image of both scales.
For example, the note F sharp is in D# Minor and the note G flat is in Eb Minor. Both these notes are enharmonic equivalents, meaning they sound the same. Learn more about the E flat Natural Minor Scale here.
What are the chords in the D Sharp Minor scale?
There are chords starting on each note of the D Sharp Minor Scale. To learn more, see our dedicated post on D Sharp Minor Chords.
What do we mean when we say a piece is ‘in the key of D Sharp Minor’?
If we say that a piece of music is in the key of D# Minor, this means a few things:
- The key signature will have six sharps as the relative major is F# major.
- The tonic (or root note) of the piece will be D# natural. This note will sound the most stable in the whole piece.
- The piece will mostly use notes from this scale, these could be in any octave.
- The chords used will be those chords that are in D sharp Minor.
What’s next….
- Learn more about the different types of minor scales with our complete guide.
- Learn about the circle of fifths and how it can help you better understand music theory.
