D minor chordson the mandolin
Main chords: Dm (i), C (♭VII), B♭ (♭VI)
The scale: D E F G A B♭ C
Drones: Open D and A ring in D minor; G and E fit the key too. The courses are G D A E, low to high.
Common progressions
- i – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭VII: Dm – C – B♭ – C
- i – ♭VI – ♭VII – i: Dm – B♭ – C – Dm
- i – iv – ♭VII – i: Dm – Gm – C – Dm (with the minor iv)
Basis: The Chiff & Fipple forum and common session practice: aeolian tunes lean on ♭VI and ♭VII (Em-D-C, Bm-G-A).