Minor Key Chords
Let’s find all the chords for the key of D sharp minor. We can use these chords to create chord progressions and play creatively in that key! Minor keys are lots of fun to use when playing creatively at the piano.
How to Find Chords for the Key of D Sharp Minor
To find chords for the key of D sharp minor, we’ll first need to build a D sharp minor scale.
There are different types of minor scales, so we’ll start with a natural minor scale. Each natural minor scale has a relative major scale on the piano. This means these two scales use the same notes to build their scales, but start and end on different notes. D sharp minor is relative to F sharp major. Since these two scales use the same notes to build their scales, they also share the same chords (just in a different order).
Here are the notes for a D sharp natural minor scale:
D♯ – E♯ – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯
Now we’ll start building a chord off each note of the scale, using only the notes of the scale to build the chords.
We’ll start on D♯ and build a “1 – 3 – 5” chord, using only the notes of the scale. When we do, we get: D♯ – F♯ – A♯
Then we’ll start on E♯ and build another “1 – 3 – 5” chord, using only the notes of the scale to build the chord. When we do, we get: E♯ – G♯ – B
Next we’ll start on F♯ and build another “1 – 3 – 5” chord, using only the notes of the scale. When we do, we get: F♯ – A♯ – C♯
We can continue following this pattern, building a “1 – 3 – 5” chord, or “triad”, off each note of the scale, and using only the notes of the scale to build the chords.
Chords for Minor Keys Printable
Learn the chords for each minor key with this 40-page PDF! Chords are built with both the natural minor and harmonic minor scales.
Chords for the Key of D Sharp Minor
Here are the chords for the key of D sharp minor:
D♯ – F♯ – A♯ = D♯ minor chord
E♯ – G♯ – B = E♯ diminished chord
F♯ – A♯ – C♯ = F♯ major chord
G♯ – B – D♯ = G♯ minor chord
A♯ – C♯ – E♯ = A♯ minor chord
B – D♯ – F♯ = B major chord
C♯ – E♯ – G♯ = C♯ major chord
How Do We Label the Chords?
You might be wondering how we can tell the difference between a major, minor, or diminished chord. It all depends on the intervals used to build the chords (learn about intervals here).
But to summarize, there are actually four types of “1 – 3 – 5” chords:
Major chords are built with the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale.
Minor chords are built with the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale, but the middle note is lowered 1/2 step.
Augmented chords are built with the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale, but the third and fifth notes are raised 1/2 step.
Diminished chords are built with the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale, but the third and fifth notes are lowered 1/2 step.
When we build a triad off each note of a natural minor scale, using only the notes of the scale, we’ll always get these chord types in this order:
Minor
Diminished
Major
Minor
Minor
Major
Major
We can use this pattern to find the chords for other minor keys!
Primary Chords for D Sharp Minor
Each minor key has three “primary” chords. These chords are built off the first, fourth and fifth notes of the scale, and they’re used frequently in that key.
The primary chords for D sharp minor are:
D♯ minor
G♯ minor
A♯ minor
How to Find Chords for D Sharp Minor Using the Harmonic Minor Scale
Now let’s find chords for D sharp minor using the harmonic minor scale.
Harmonic minor scales are similar to natural minor scales, except the seventh note is raised 1/2 step.
Here are the notes for a D sharp harmonic minor scale:
D♯ – E♯ – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B – C♯♯ – D♯
You may be wondering why we would label the C with two sharps: C♯♯ The reason is because scales must progress in alphabetical order, and since the note before C♯♯ is a B, the note that follows B must be some sort of C.
Now we can build a “1 – 3 – 5” chord off each note of this scale, using only the notes of the scale to build the chords as before.
Chords for D Sharp Minor Using the Harmonic Minor Scale
Here are the chords for D sharp minor when we use the harmonic minor scale:
D♯ – F♯ – A♯ = D♯ minor chord
E♯ – G♯ – B = E♯ diminished chord
F♯ – A♯ – C♯♯ = F♯ augmented chord
G♯ – B – D♯ = G♯ minor chord
A♯ – C♯♯ – E♯ = A♯ major chord
B – D♯ – F♯ = B major chord
C♯♯ – E♯ – G♯ = C♯♯ diminished chord
Labeling the Chords
When we build a “1 – 3 – 5” chord off each note of a harmonic minor scale, we’ll always get these chord types in this order:
Minor
Diminished
Augmented
Minor
Major
Major
Diminished
Primary Chords for D Sharp Minor Using the Harmonic Minor Scale
The primary chords for D sharp minor, when using the harmonic minor scale to build the chords, are:
D♯ minor
G♯ minor
A♯ major
When we use the harmonic minor scale instead of the natural minor scale to build the chords, the third primary chord becomes major instead of minor, which creates some nice contrast.
Conclusion
Now you know how to find chords for the key of D sharp minor on the piano, and you can use this knowledge to find chords for other minor keys!
When we know the chords for a particular key, we can use those chords to create chord progressions, focusing on the primary chords. This is lots of fun, and makes the piano come to life!
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