Chord progression · D minor

The epic minor progression (i–VI–III–VII) in D minor

A dramatic, anthemic minor loop used all over rock, pop and film music. It’s the pop progression’s darker twin — the same chords, starting from the minor chord.

Chords in D minor
Dm→B♭→F→C
Numerals
iVIIIIVII

Play along

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

1Dmi
2B♭VI
3FIII
4CVII

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
VI B♭
×1B♭2F3B♭4D1F
3B♭2D1F1B♭
C4DFB♭B♭/D
III F
1F3C4F2A1C1F
2AC1FA
CFAF/C
VII C
×3C2EG1CE
GCE1C
CEGC E G

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.