stringery

D minor pentatonic

The first scale most players learn: rock and blues solos. Minor family

Gritty and expressive. The sound of a guitar solo.

Root position5 of 5

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Square: the root. In colour: the minor 3rd, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. DR1½
  2. F♭3W
  3. G4W
  4. A51½
  5. C♭7W

Five notes with no half steps, so you can bend and slide anywhere and it still sounds right.

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 minor pentatonic

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12345EADGBE35791215♭345♭7R♭345♭7R♭345♭7R♭345♭7R♭345♭7R♭345♭7R♭345♭7R♭345♭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

  • F major pentatonic

    Same five notes, centred on the relative major.

  • D blues

    Add one note, the flat 5th, and it becomes the blues scale.