D minor scales A minor scale with a flat

Give it a try

Audio file

Listen to the audio files and follow along on your own keyboard

D minor scales

D minor follows from A minor, spicing things up by adding a flat to its key signature

Just like major scales, the minor scales follow a cycle, adding either a sharp or a flat with each new scale. The next minor scale to learn is D minor which has one flat; B . The relative major scale to D minor is F major, as it also contains the same single flat note.

As with A minor, you will learn three formats: the natural minor, the harmonic minor and the melodic minor. These contain only a slight change but each sounds very unique. It is important to understand the three types of minor scale, as their sequences will appear in the music you will go on to learn.

D natural minor

The D natural minor scale uses the same notes found in the F major scale, beginning and ending on D: D-E-F-G-A-B -C-D. In the D harmonic minor, the seventh note needs to be raised one semitone. A semitone refers to the smallest possible distance between two notes, basically the distance between

two notes directly next to each other. In most cases, the note directly next to a white key on either side is a black key. For example, to raise a G one semitone, you simply go to the black note above of G#. With a B however, the next key is a white one – C. So for B, a semitone above is actually C. “It is important to understand the three types of minor scale, as their sequences will appear in the music you will go on to learn”

1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5

01 The right hand

For D natural minor, the fingering pattern used in C major is again employed. For the right hand, the sequence is: D (1), E (2), F (3), G (1) (tucked), A (2), B (3), C (4), D (5). Begin on the D one note above Middle C.

02 Your left hand

Once you have ascended and descended a few times with your right hand, try the left hand beginning two octaves lower. The notes are the same as for Step 1, and the fingering pattern is again the same as C major.

D harmonic minor

1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5

03 A flat and a sharp in the same scale

Even though D minor has a B in the key signature, the raised 7th will still be labelled as a sharp. Play with your right hand: D-E-F-G-A-B -C#-D.

D melodic minor

04 The left hand

Follow the same notes as for the right hand, starting two octaves lower. Practise the scale with hands separately, then together.

05 Raising B flat to B natural

For D melodic minor both the sixth and the seventh note need to be raised during the ascent. This means B rises to B natural and C rises to C#.

06 The notes to play

On the descent you need to lower the sixth and seventh back to the notes of the D natural minor scale: D-C-B -A-G-F-E-D.