ScalesD Blues
Guitar scale · fretboard map
D Blues Scale
The D Blues scale is built from the notes D, F, G, G#, A, and C. The diagram below maps every one of those notes across the guitar neck, from the open strings up to the 12th fret, with the root D highlighted.
The blues scale is the minor pentatonic plus one flat-five blue note, the extra note that gives it that crying, vocal sound.
Notes in the D Blues scale
D1
Fb3
G4
G#b5
A5
Cb7
D Blues scale on the fretboard
root (D) other scale notes
Explore this on the interactive fretboard →
The free Fretboard Explorer lets you switch keys and see the CAGED shapes and scale overlays tile the whole neck.
Other scales in D
D MajorD Natural MinorD Major PentatonicD Minor PentatonicD DorianD PhrygianD LydianD MixolydianD Harmonic Minor
The blues scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
- What notes are in the D Blues scale?
- The D Blues scale contains 6 notes: D, F, G, G#, A, and C. As scale degrees those are 1, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7.
- How do you play the D Blues scale on guitar?
- Every note above is shown on the fretboard diagram, from the open strings up to the 12th fret, with the root (D) highlighted. The pattern is movable: learn the shape once and you can slide it to start on any root. Anchor your playing to the D notes so the scale sounds resolved.
- What is the D Blues scale used for?
- The blues scale is the minor pentatonic plus one flat-five blue note, the extra note that gives it that crying, vocal sound. Once the shape is under your fingers, try improvising over a backing track in D and listen for how each note pulls back toward the root.