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Guitar scales · Blues

D blues scale on guitar

The D has six notes: D, F, G, A♭, A and C. As degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, ♭5, 5 and ♭7.

Notes and pattern

The D blues scale

Minor plus the 'blue note' between the 4th and 5th, written ♭5 or ♯4. Play it to hear it up and down.

From note to note it climbs 3, 2, 1, 1, 3 and 2 . The two around the blue note are its bluesy rub.

The D is D minor with one extra note, A♭, the blue note between the 4th and 5th. See that scale.

  1. D1
  2. F♭3
  3. G4
  4. A♭♭5
  5. A5
  6. C♭7
EADGBE0135791215DDDDDDDDFGA♭ACFGACFGA♭ACFGA♭ACFGA♭ACFGA♭ACFGA♭ACFGA♭ACFG
  • D, the root
  • Other scale notes

Chords

What to play D blues over

Play it over a 12-bar blues in D (D7, G7 and A7), or over rock and funk riffs in D minor.

Same root

Change a note or two and the same takes on a new mood.

Questions

D blues, in short

What notes are in the D blues scale?
The D has six notes: D, F, G, A♭, A and C. As degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, ♭5, 5 and ♭7.
What chords go with the D blues scale?
Play it over a 12-bar blues in D (D7, G7 and A7), or over rock and funk riffs in D minor.
All guitar scales