Chord progression · D minor

The minor cadence (i–iv–V–i) in D minor

The minor-key version of I–IV–V. The V chord is major (borrowed from the harmonic minor scale), which gives a strong pull back home.

Chords in D minor
Dm→Gm→A→Dm
Numerals
iivVi

Play along

4 bars of 4 beats, looping · pick a key above to transpose

1Dmi
2Gmiv
3AV
4Dmi

Strum pattern: ↓   ↓↑  ↑↓↑ (down, down-up, up-down-up) — count “1 2 & 3 & 4 &”. Learn this strum →

The chords

i Dm
××D2A3D1F
2A3D1FA
C4DFAD F A
iv Gm
2G1B♭DG3D4G
G2D3G1B♭
C4DGB♭Gm/D
V A
×A1E2A3C♯E
2A1C♯EA
C4EAC♯A/C♯

Piano voicings use inversions so each chord is as close as possible to the one before — your hand barely moves. Switch to “Root position” to compare.