D Pentatonic Major
D Pentatonic scale for guitar.
The D Pentatonic Major is a five-note scale. The diagram shows a fingerboard with the scale notes. Darker color marks the root notes, which are D tones. In the two-octave pattern, the first root note is on the 6th string, 10th fret.
D Pentatonic Major 2 octaves
D Pentatonic Major full fretboard
D Pentatonic Major with note names
Shape 1 (9th position)
Shape 5 (7th position)
The scale and its scale degrees.
| Formula | Notes |
|---|---|
| 1 | D |
| 2 | E |
| 3 | F# |
| 5 | A |
| 6 | B |
The fourth degree is omitted, as well as the seventh, since the degrees are based on the regular Major seven-note scale.
The interval formula (2 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3) can be expound into specific notes of the scale.
| Notes (ascending) | Interval |
|---|---|
| D-E | M2 |
| D-F# | M3 |
| D-A | P5 |
| D-B | M6 |
| Notes (descending) | Interval |
|---|---|
| D-B | m3 |
| D-A | P4 |
| D-F# | m6 |
| D-E | m7 |
Abbreviations are used: M / m stands for major / minor and P stands for perfect.
The notes in the scale can be described as intervals, written as 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 from the first note to the first in next octave.
The D Pentatonic Major is relative to B Pentatonic Minor. Both scales include the same notes but with different root notes.
Some of the chords that are related to this scale are listed here:
- D
- Em7
- F#m7
- Asus4
- Bm
The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the D Pentatonic Major scale. Notice that the match is not completely exact, the third (G) in Em7 and the fifth (C#) in F#m7 are not included in the scale.
Related to this scale is the D Pentatonic Major add4, adding the 4th degree. It can be displayed as follows:
| Formula | Notes | Intervals | Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Unison | Tonic |
| 2 | E | Major second | Supertonic |
| 3 | F# | Major third | Mediant |
| 4 | G | Perfect fourth | Subdominant |
| 5 | A | Perfect fifth | Dominant |
| 6 | B | Sixth | Submediant |
The D Pentatonic Major add4 scale, is identical with the D Major except for missing the major 7th interval.
Start the audio and play along! Use notes from the scale in the diagram above.
Normal tempo:D Pentatonic Major scale first shape ascending.
The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.