D blues scale
The D minor pentatonic plus a sixth note: the flat fifth, or “blue note.” It’s what gives the blues its color, slipped in between the fourth and the fifth.
- Notes:
- D, F, G, A♭, A, C.
- Formula:
- 1, ♭3, 4, ♭5, 5, ♭7.
- Style:
- Blues, rock, jazz.
- Difficulty:
- Beginner.
On the neck
Every note of the scale on the neck (choose 12, 15 or 19 frets). Click to listen.
High E at the top, just like in tab.Neck seen from the front, headstock at the top: low E on the left, just like a chord diagram.
Play the scale notes over it. Open in the Studio
Chords that go with it
The chords built on the notes of the scale: improvise with this scale over any progression that uses them.
Progressions to use it on
Loop the first one and improvise over it:
All 5 positions
These are the five minor pentatonic positions, plus the blue note (in purple) wherever it falls in the position. Position 1 starts on the root, on the 6th string.
Position 1: frets 10 to 13
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------------10-13-| B|-------------------------------10-13-------| G|----------------------10-12-13-------------| D|----------------10-12----------------------| A|-------10-11-12----------------------------| E|-10-13-------------------------------------|
Position 2: frets 0 to 3
It also works an octave higher, frets 12 to 15.
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-----------------------1-3-| B|-------------------1-3-----| G|-------------0-1-2---------| D|---------0-3---------------| A|-----0-3-------------------| E|-1-3-----------------------|
Position 3: frets 2 to 6
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------3-4-5-| B|---------------------3-6-------| G|-----------------2-5-----------| D|-----------3-5-6---------------| A|-------3-5---------------------| E|-3-4-5-------------------------|
Position 4: frets 5 to 8
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-----------------------5-8-| B|-------------------6-8-----| G|---------------5-7---------| D|---------5-6-7-------------| A|-----5-8-------------------| E|-5-8-----------------------|
Position 5: frets 7 to 10
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|----------------------------8-10-| B|---------------------8-9-10------| G|----------------7-10-------------| D|-----------7-10------------------| A|------8-10-----------------------| E|-8-10----------------------------|