About the D Whole Tone Scale
The D whole tone scale is a 6-note scale. All whole steps, dreamy and unresolved sound. Its notes are D, E, F#, G#, A# and C, built from the formula 1 2 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- D – E – F# – G# – A# – C
- Formula
- 1 2 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- W W W W W W (2–2–2–2–2–2 semitones)
- Root
- D
D Whole Tone Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Root |
| 2 | E | Major 2nd |
| 3 | F# | Major 3rd |
| ♭5 | G# | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | A# | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | C | Minor 7th |
Where to play the D Whole Tone Scale on bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (D) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E1 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| A1 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 |
| D2 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| G2 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 |
How to practice the whole tone scale
- Practice the even whole-step pattern
- Use over augmented and 7#5 chords
- Work on Debussy-inspired voicings
- Try creating tension before resolution
- Experiment with augmented triads within
Scales with the same notes as D Whole Tone Scale
These scales share every note with the D whole tone scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Whole Tone scale in other keys
Other scales in D
- D Minor Pentatonic
- D Major Pentatonic
- D Mixolydian Pentatonic
- D Natural Minor
- D Major (Ionian)
- D Blues
- D Dorian
- D Mixolydian
- D Phrygian
- D Harmonic Minor
- D Lydian
- D Locrian
- D Diminished (Half-Whole)
- D Diminished (Whole-Half)
- D Augmented (Hexatonic)
- D Altered (Super Locrian)
- D Phrygian Dominant
- D Lydian Dominant
- D Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- D Bebop Dominant
- D Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- D Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)