Dm Chord on Ukulele
Dm = D – F – A (Root, Minor 3rd, Perfect 5th)
D minor keeps the same G-string and C-string frets as D major's barre shape but drops the barre, using three independent fingers instead: middle finger holds fret two on the G string, ring finger holds fret two on the C string, and index finger drops onto fret one of the E string, with the A string open. Because the fingers land close together low on the neck, it's a compact, quick shape once the slightly awkward three-finger stack is memorized, and unlike D major it asks for three genuinely independent fingers rather than one flattened barre finger.
As the ii chord in the key of C major, Dm is the minor chord that most often precedes G on the way back to C in a ii-V-I motion — a slightly more sophisticated cadence than the plain V-I move, and one that shows up whenever a progression wants a touch more harmonic color before resolving. Its own character is subdued and a little tense compared to D major, without the darker weight of Em, sitting in a kind of middle register of minor-chord moods. Dm can also stand as the i chord of its own natural minor key, paired with Gm and a raised-leading-tone A7 for a self-contained minor progression outside the context of C major. Compared to Am, D minor's shape sits a little higher and more cramped on the neck, and its lowest note is a fretted E string rather than an open string, which gives it a slightly tighter, more closed-in sound than the airier open Am voicing.
Fingerings
Open Position
How to Practice It
The three fingers land on three adjacent strings a single fret apart from each other in places, which makes accidental muting the main hazard — keep each fingertip vertical and check that the open A string underneath the ring finger rings clean. Because this shape is a close relative of D major (same G and C string frets, different E string), practicing the switch between D and Dm is a good drill in hearing how one string's fret controls major versus minor. Try isolating the Dm-to-G7-to-C cadence slowly at first, since the hand has to travel from a cramped three-finger shape to a much more open G7 shape in a single beat once tempo picks up.
Common Progressions
- ii – V – I (Dm – G – C)
- i – iv – V (Dm – Gm – A7, in D natural minor with a raised leading tone)
- I – ii – V – I (C – Dm – G – C)
- vi – ii – V – I (Am – Dm – G – C)
FAQ
- How is Dm related to D major on ukulele?
- Two of the three fretted notes are identical; only the E string's fret changes, from the second fret (major shape, barred) down to the first fret played individually, which flips the chord's third from major to minor.
- Where does Dm typically appear in a C major progression?
- Most often right before G, forming a ii-V motion into the I chord (C) — a common, slightly richer alternative to jumping straight from a IV or a plain V chord.
- Does Dm ever function as its own key center rather than just C's ii chord?
- Yes — as the i chord of D natural minor, it pairs with Gm (iv) and a dominant A7 (V, with a raised leading tone) for a short self-contained minor-key progression, independent of any C major context.
- What's a good way to isolate the Dm shape before adding it to a song?
- Fret it and strum slowly, checking string by string that the G, C, and E strings ring clean and the open A string isn't muted by the ring finger's angle, before attempting to switch into or out of it at tempo.
- How does Dm compare in sound to Am?
- Both are common minor open shapes, but Dm's lowest note is a fretted E string rather than an open string the way Am's is, giving Dm a somewhat tighter, more closed-in color next to Am's airier ring.
- Is Dm's shape related to any other common chord?
- It shares two of its three fretted notes with D major's barre shape, so learning the two side by side helps make clear exactly which single string controls the major-versus-minor difference.
Dm on other instruments: Dm on Guitar, Dm on Piano. Related: how chords are built, chord finder.