Dm6 — D, F, A, B — is a D minor triad with an added major sixth. All four notes are naturals. The chord is the i6 of D minor — a primary tonic in D-minor jazz — and is enharmonic to B half-diminished, sharing the same four pitches.
Intervals
The D minor 6 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:
- D→Fminor 3rd3 semitones
- F→Amajor 3rd4 semitones
- A→Bmajor 2nd2 semitones
On the keyboard
Each note of the D minor 6 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.
On the guitar
One voicing of the D minor 6 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.
- 1D
- ♭3F
- 5A
- 6B
Common mistakes
Dm6 has B natural as its sixth — borrowed from D Dorian or D melodic minor (which include B as the raised 6th of D natural minor). Don't confuse Dm6 with Dm7: Dm6 has B (major sixth); Dm7 has C (minor seventh).
In context
Dm6 is the i6 of D minor (often used as a final tonic in D-minor jazz tunes). Miles Davis's "So What" is modally based on Dm7, but related D-minor tunes use Dm6 at cadences. The progression Em7♭5 → A7 → Dm6 is the standard ii-V-i in D minor.
Drill it
The D minor 6 chord is one of 48 in the Chord Trainer. Open the full trainer to practice it alongside related chords with timing and best-time tracking.
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Frequently asked
- What notes are in a Dm6 chord?
- Dm6 contains four notes: D (root), F (minor third), A (perfect fifth), and B (major sixth).
- Is Dm6 the same as B half-diminished?
- Enharmonically yes — same four pitches. Dm6 has D as root (minor tonic); Bø has B as root (ii of A minor).
- How is Dm6 different from Dm7?
- Only the top note changes. Dm6 has B (major sixth); Dm7 has C (minor seventh). Dm6 sounds brighter and more "jazz-tinged"; Dm7 sounds more modal.
- When is Dm6 used in jazz?
- As a final tonic in D-minor ballads, as a substitute for plain D minor in modal jazz, and as a bossa-nova tonic colour. "Solar" by Miles Davis (which modulates through D minor) uses related m6 voicings.