stringery

D blues

Minor pentatonic plus one 'blue' note. Dominant family

Bluesy, raw, a little dirty.

Root position5 of 5

35791215

Square: the root. In colour: the flat 5th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. DR1½
  2. F♭3W
  3. G4H
  4. A♭♭5H
  5. A51½
  6. C♭7W

The flat 5th sits between the 4th and 5th. Slide through it and you get the crying sound of the blues.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckD blues

12345EADGBE35791215♭34♭55♭7R♭345♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34
12345EADGBE35791215♭34♭55♭7R♭345♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34

Position 5 is outlined, frets 10 to 13. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home