How to play Dm (D Minor) on Ukulele
Diagram, notes, and audio for the Dm chord on ukulele. Free in your browser.
About Dm on ukulele
D minor on the ukulele is a relatively friendly three-finger chord. Middle finger on the 2nd fret of the G string, ring on the 2nd fret of the C, index on the 1st fret of the E, with the A string open. The notes are D, F, and A. The chord sits comfortably in first position and is one of the first minor chords most ukulele method books introduce.
Dm is the i chord in D minor (one flat: Bb), the ii in C major, and the vi in F major. On ukulele the chord most often appears as the ii in C-key songs — any Cmaj progression that visits Dm or Dm7 leans on this shape. Pop ukulele covers of jazz standards (Autumn Leaves) and folk tunes (Scarborough Fair) often live in or around D minor.
Common ukulele progressions involving Dm include i-VII-VI-V (Dm-C-Bb-A) and the C-major ii-V-I cadence (Dm-G-C). Substituting Dm7 (which adds the open C string of an open Dm shape) makes the chord feel softer and more 'pop'; many singer-songwriter arrangements default to Dm7 because it is one finger easier than Dm and sounds richer.
Frequently asked questions
- Is D minor an easy ukulele chord?
- It's a three-finger chord but all three fingers stay in first position. After C, Am, and F, Dm is one of the next chords most beginners learn.
- What's the difference between Dm and Dm7 on ukulele?
- Dm7 (D-F-A-C) adds C on top of the Dm triad. On ukulele Dm7 is sometimes simpler — a partial barre on the 1st fret of the E and A strings with the C and G strings open.
- What chords pair with Dm on ukulele?
- Gm (iv), A or A7 (V), and F (relative major) all sit naturally next to Dm in folk and pop contexts.
Switch instruments
See Dm on a different instrument — same chord, new diagram.