About the D Major Pentatonic Scale
The D major pentatonic scale is a 5-note scale. Bright and happy sound, great for country and pop. Its notes are D, E, F#, A and B, built from the formula 1 2 3 5 6.
- Notes
- D – E – F# – A – B
- Formula
- 1 2 3 5 6
- Steps
- W W W+H W W+H (2–2–3–2–3 semitones)
- Root
- D
D Major Pentatonic Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Root |
| 2 | E | Major 2nd |
| 3 | F# | Major 3rd |
| 5 | A | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | B | Major 6th |
Where to play the D Major Pentatonic Scale on 6-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G C), lowest string first. Root notes (D) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 |
| E1 | 0, 2, 5, 7, 10, 12 |
| A1 | 0, 2, 5, 7, 9, 12 |
| D2 | 0, 2, 4, 7, 9, 12 |
| G2 | 2, 4, 7, 9, 11 |
| C3 | 2, 4, 6, 9, 11 |
How to practice the major pentatonic scale
- Practice country-style double stops
- Work on hybrid picking patterns
- Try sliding between positions
- Play over major chord progressions
- Mix with minor pentatonic for variety
Scales with the same notes as D Major Pentatonic Scale
These scales share every note with the D major pentatonic scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Major Pentatonic scale in other keys
Other scales in D
- D Minor 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 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)