D blues scale on cavaquinho
The D blues scale has 6 notes: D F G A♭ A C (D, F, G, A flat, A, and C).
- D 1
- F ♭3
- G 4
- A♭ A flat ♭5
- A 5
- C ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 17. The root (D) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Box 1 (frets 0 to 3), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: open (D), 3 (F)
- string 3: open (G), 1 (A♭), 2 (A)
- string 2: 1 (C), 3 (D)
- string 1: 3 (F)
Box 2 (frets 2 to 7), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 3 (F), 5 (G), 6 (A♭)
- string 3: 2 (A), 5 (C)
- string 2: 3 (D), 6 (F)
- string 1: 5 (G), 6 (A♭), 7 (A)
Box 3 (frets 5 to 9), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 5 (G), 6 (A♭), 7 (A)
- string 3: 5 (C), 7 (D)
- string 2: 6 (F), 8 (G), 9 (A♭)
- string 1: 7 (A)
Box 4 (frets 7 to 10), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 7 (A), 10 (C)
- string 3: 7 (D), 10 (F)
- string 2: 8 (G), 9 (A♭), 10 (A)
- string 1: 10 (C)
Box 5 (frets 10 to 13), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 10 (C), 12 (D)
- string 3: 10 (F), 12 (G), 13 (A♭)
- string 2: 10 (A), 13 (C)
- string 1: 12 (D)
Fretboard positions
The positions are the pentatonic boxes with the passing note (♭3) fitted in between the notes of the box. Box 1 starts on the root (D).
Use Degrees to see the role of each note (1 is the root) and Listen to hear the selected position going up and down.
Formula
- D
- 1½W
- F
- W
- G
- H
- A♭
- H
- A
- 1½W
- C
- W
- D
Degrees: 1 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · 5 · ♭7. Steps: 1½W – W – H – H – 1½W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the blues scale
Minor pentatonic plus the "blue note" (flat fifth). The sound of the blues.
Scales with the same notes
Relative major: F major blues scale . Same notes, different center.
More D scales
- Major
- Natural minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Blues
- Major blues
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião)
- Phrygian dominant
- Whole-tone
- Diminished (whole-half)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole)
Blues in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the D blues scale?
The notes of the D blues scale are D, F, G, A flat, A, and C. The root, degree 1, is D.
What is the formula of the D blues scale?
In degrees: 1 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · 5 · ♭7. In steps between the notes: 1½W – W – H – H – 1½W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do you play the D blues scale on cavaquinho?
The positions are the pentatonic boxes with the passing note (♭3) fitted in between the notes of the box. Box 1 starts on the root (D). There are 5 boxes on cavaquinho, each with the full fingering.