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Scales

D blues scale

The D blues scale notes: D – F – G – G♯ – A – C. The minor pentatonic plus the “blue note”, the ♭5 between the 4th and 5th. Use it as a passing note, not a resting note.

Notes and steps

D1F♭3G4G♯♭5A5C♭7

Steps: W+H – W – H – H – W+H – W · W = whole step, H = half step

D blues scale on guitar

Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Filled circles are the root.

D blues scale on the guitar fretboardFGG♯ACDACDFGG♯ADFGG♯ACDGG♯ACDFGCDFGG♯AFGG♯ACD357912

D blues scale on piano

D blues scale on the piano keyboardCDFGACDFGAG♯G♯

Other scales from D

The same scale from other notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the D blues scale?

D, F, G, G♯, A, C. Step formula: W+H–W–H–H–W+H–W (W = whole step, H = half step).

How do I practise it on guitar?

Every circle on the fretboard is a note of the scale up to fret 12; the filled circles mark the root (D). Start in one position (within 4–5 frets), root to root, slowly, with a metronome.

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Photos: Isak Photography, 42 North, Rachel Loughman, Vitaly Gariev, Vitaly Gariev, Isaac Martin / Unsplash