D-sharp minor seventh chord (D#m7)
The D♯ minor seventh chord (D♯m7) is a minor seventh chord: a minor triad with a minor seventh on top, D♯, F♯, A♯ and C♯ (root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh).
It is the vi7 in F♯ major and the i7 in D♯ minor; its relative is F♯ major seventh, and A♯ dominant seventh leads into it as its V7.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play D♯ minor seventh on guitar
There are 3 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: x-6-4-6-4-6, barre at fret 4, with D♯ in the bass (fingers x-2-1-3-1-4).
- Voicing 2: 11-13-11-11-11-11, movable E-shape barre chord at fret 11, with D♯ in the bass.
- Voicing 3: x-6-8-6-7-6, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 6, with D♯ in the bass.
Notes of the D♯ minor seventh chord on the fretboard
D♯ minor seventh has 4 notes: D♯, F♯, A♯ and C♯. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): F♯ (2) · A♯ (6) · C♯ (9) · D♯ (11)
- String 5 (A): A♯ (1) · C♯ (4) · D♯ (6) · F♯ (9)
- String 4 (D): D♯ (1) · F♯ (4) · A♯ (8) · C♯ (11)
- String 3 (G): A♯ (3) · C♯ (6) · D♯ (8) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): C♯ (2) · D♯ (4) · F♯ (7) · A♯ (11)
- String 1 (E): F♯ (2) · A♯ (6) · C♯ (9) · D♯ (11)
Formula and intervals of D♯ minor seventh
Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7; in semitones from the root, 0-3-7-10.
- D♯: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- F♯: Minor third (m3), 3 semitones above D♯
- A♯: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above D♯
- C♯: Minor seventh (m7), 10 semitones above D♯
D♯ minor seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 3-3-2-4; it sounds A♯, D♯, F♯ and C♯.
D♯ minor seventh on piano
- Keys: D♯4, F♯4, A♯4 and C♯5.
Inversions of D♯ minor seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: D♯, F♯, A♯ and C♯, with D♯ in the bass.
- First inversion (D♯m7/F♯): F♯, A♯, C♯ and D♯, with F♯ in the bass.
- Second inversion (D♯m7/A♯): A♯, C♯, D♯ and F♯, with A♯ in the bass.
- Third inversion (D♯m7/C♯): C♯, D♯, F♯ and A♯, with C♯ in the bass.
Keys that use D♯ minor seventh
D♯ minor seventh appears in 6 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| D♭ major (5 flats) | ii7 (written E♭m7) | Supertonic |
| B major (5 sharps) | iii7 | Mediant |
| F♯ major (6 sharps) | vi7 | Submediant |
| D♯ minor (6 sharps) | i7 | Tonic |
| B♭ minor (5 flats) | iv7 (written E♭m7) | Subdominant |
| G♯ minor (5 sharps) | v7 | Dominant |
Progressions with D♯ minor seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in D♭ major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): E♭m7 – A♭7 – D♭maj7
D♯ minor seventh or E♭ minor seventh?
D♯ minor seventh (D♯m7) and E♭ minor seventh (E♭m7) are the same chord with two names: they sound the same and use the same frets.
The spelling depends on the key: it is written E♭ minor seventh in flat keys and D♯ minor seventh in sharp keys.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the D♯ minor seventh chord?
D♯, F♯, A♯ and C♯: root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh. Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7.
Which keys use D♯ minor seventh?
Mainly as the vi7 in F♯ major and the i7 in D♯ minor. In total it appears in 6 major and minor keys.
Is E♭ minor seventh the same chord as D♯ minor seventh?
Yes: E♭ minor seventh and D♯ minor seventh sound the same and are played the same way. It is written E♭ minor seventh in flat keys and D♯ minor seventh in sharp keys.
What is the relative of D♯ minor seventh?
F♯ major seventh: they share three of their four notes. In the key where F♯ major seventh is Imaj7, D♯ minor seventh is vi7; in a major key, the minor seventh chords are ii7, iii7 and vi7.