Chord · D Minor 9th
Dm9 Chord
Dm9 is D, F, A, C and E — smooth, sophisticated; neo-soul staple.
Dm9 on every instrument
The same 5 notes, 3 sets of hands. Open a diagram for alternate shapes, audio and the mistakes to avoid.
What Dm9 is made of
Dm9 (D minor ninth) is built from the notes D, F, A, C, E, with the interval pattern 1, b3, 5, b7, 9.
Stack 1, b3, 5, b7 and 9 on a root of D and you get D, F, A, C and E. That interval recipe is what makes the chord a minor ninth chord — move the same shape to another root and the character travels with it, which is why Cm9 sounds like a transposed Dm9.
Minor 9th: Smooth, sophisticated; neo-soul staple.
Spelling: the notes above are written the way a score would write them, not simplified to the nearest piano key. Every tone here lands on its own letter — no accidentals needed.
Keys that contain Dm9
All 5 notes sit inside the scale of 4 keys. The roman numeral marks the degree the chord is rooted on.
Other chords on D
Same root, different colour.
The same minor ninth shape, moved
The identical interval recipe, built on other roots.
Questions people ask about Dm9
- What notes are in the Dm9 chord?
- Dm9 is made of D, F, A, C and E — the 1, b3, 5, b7 and 9 degrees of a minor ninth chord built on D.
- What keys use the Dm9 chord?
- Every note of Dm9 belongs to 4 keys: C Major (ii), F Major (vi), A Minor (iv), D Minor (i). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.
- How do you play Dm9 on guitar and piano?
- This page shows Dm9 on guitar, piano and ukulele — 7 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.
Learn the theory behind it
Why Dm9 behaves the way it does — the guides that explain the chord instead of just spelling it.