About the D Blues Scale
The D blues scale is a 6-note scale. Minor pentatonic with added blue note (♭5). Its notes are D, F, G, G#, A and C, built from the formula 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7.
- Notes
- D – F – G – G# – A – C
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7
- Steps
- W+H W H H W+H W (3–2–1–1–3–2 semitones)
- Root
- D
D Blues Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Root |
| ♭3 | F | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | G | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | G# | Tritone (♭5) |
| 5 | A | Perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | C | Minor 7th |
Where to play the D Blues Scale on 5-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (D) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10 |
| E1 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 |
| A1 | 0, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12 |
| D2 | 0, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12 |
| G2 | 0, 1, 2, 5, 7, 10, 12 |
How to practice the blues scale
- Emphasize the blue note (♭5) with bends
- Practice chromatic runs through the ♭5
- Work on vibrato on sustained notes
- Try call-and-response phrasing
- Mix with major pentatonic for major blues
Blues scale in other keys
Other scales in D
- D Minor Pentatonic
- D Major Pentatonic
- D Mixolydian Pentatonic
- D Natural Minor
- D Major (Ionian)
- D Dorian
- D Mixolydian
- D Phrygian
- D Harmonic Minor
- D Lydian
- D Locrian
- D Diminished (Half-Whole)
- D Diminished (Whole-Half)
- D Whole Tone
- 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)