Skip to content

Guitar scales · Minor pentatonic

D minor pentatonic scale on guitar

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

Notes and pattern

The D minor pentatonic scale

The first scale most guitarists learn: the backbone of blues and rock soloing. Play it to hear it up and down.

From note to note it climbs 3, 2, 2, 3 and 2 : there are no , which is why it is so hard to hit a wrong note.

D minor has the same notes as F major pentatonic, starting from D. See that scale.

  1. D1
  2. F♭3
  3. G4
  4. A5
  5. C♭7
EADGBE0135791215DDDDDDDDFGACFGACFGACFGACFGACFGACFGACFGACFG
  • D, the root
  • Other scale notes

Positions

D minor pentatonic in five positions

The splits the neck into five overlapping positions, one per shape. Learn one, then join it to the next.

Box 1 starts at 10, with the , D, under your first finger on the low E string.

D minor · G-shape position · box 1

Frets 10–13. The Dm chord (Em form) is in ink.

EADGBE0135791215DDDAFAFGCGCF
  • Root (D)
  • Chord shape
  • Pentatonic tone

Chords

What to play D minor pentatonic over

Play it over songs in D minor or F major, and over a 12-bar blues in D (D7, G7 and A7).

Same root

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

Questions

D minor pentatonic, in short

What notes are in the D minor pentatonic scale?
The D minor has five notes: D, F, G, A and C. As degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, 5 and ♭7.
What chords go with the D minor pentatonic scale?
Play it over songs in D minor or F major, and over a 12-bar blues in D (D7, G7 and A7).
What is the relative major of D minor pentatonic?
D minor pentatonic has the same notes as F major pentatonic, starting from D.
All guitar scales