D# Minor
6th Fret (Am-shape Barre)The primary D#m shape — Am-shape barre at the 6th fret. A strong, full voicing with the root on the A string.
D# Minor
11th Fret (Em-shape Barre)Full six-string Em-shape barre at the 11th fret. Full and resonant — root anchored on the low E string.
D# Minor
8th Fret (4-String)Four-string Dm-shape voicing at the 8th position — clear and compact, ideal for arpeggiated playing.
D# Minor
6th Fret (Compact Triad)Tight three-note D#m triad on the top strings. Quick and agile for rhythm work or when a compact voicing is needed.
D# Minor
1st Fret (Dm-shape)Dm-shape barre at the 1st fret — a four-string D#m voicing near the nut. Useful when you need Ebm without jumping to higher positions.
Tips for Playing the D#m / Ebm Chord
Mid-neck barre is comfortable
The Am-shape barre at the 6th fret sits in a comfortable mid-neck region — lower string tension than the 1st-2nd fret area and easier to barre cleanly than positions above the 12th fret.
Try the 11th-fret Em-shape
The Em-shape barre at the 11th fret is an alternative voicing worth knowing — it gives a slightly brighter tone and is useful in different musical contexts than the 6th-fret shape.
Use both enharmonic names
Sheet music and chord charts may show this chord as D#m or Ebm depending on the key signature. Recognize both names and play the same shapes.
Dm-shape near nut
The Dm-shape at the 1st fret gives a D#m voicing close to the nut. It requires no full barre, just three fingers in a compact position, making it useful for quick chord changes.
Common progressions
In the key of Gb/F# major: D#m / Ebm functions as the vi chord alongside Gb, Db, and Ab. In Eb minor: Ebm → B → Gb → Db is a standard minor key progression.
Enharmonic awareness
D#m is enharmonically Ebm. Songs in the key of Db or Gb often use Ebm, while songs in the key of F# use D#m. The chord sounds identical regardless of how it's spelled.
About the D#m / Ebm Chord on Guitar
The D# minor chord (also written Eb minor or Ebm) is built from three notes: D#/Eb (the root), F#/Gb (the minor 3rd), and A#/Bb (the perfect 5th). It is the relative minor of F# major / Gb major and has no open-string voicing in standard tuning. The Am-shape barre at the 6th fret is the primary approach — a comfortable mid-neck position with balanced string tension. Ebm / D#m appears frequently in pop, R&B, and soul music in flat-key contexts. This page covers five practical voicings including the standard Am-shape barre, an Em-shape barre at the 11th fret, a Dm-shape near the nut, and a compact top-string triad. Every diagram is interactive with real acoustic guitar sound.
- 015 D#m / Ebm chord shapes from intermediate to advanced
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Real acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Am-shape barre, Em-shape barre, and compact triad voicings
- 05Difficulty rating on every shape
- 06Free — no sign-up or download needed
ANATOMY
Chord Tones
The 3 notes that form the D# Minor chord and their role in the major scale.
Every minor chord follows this same formula — root, minor third, perfect fifth.