D major pentatonic scale

Five notes, no clashes: country, folk and pop melodies. Major family

Sunny and open. Hard to play a wrong note.

Root position4 of 5

Square: the root. In colour: the 6th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

It drops the 4th and 7th, the two notes that can rub against a major chord, so every note sounds safe.

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).

Position 4 is outlined, frets 9 to 12. Pick another window to move there.

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.