D major blues scale on cavaquinho
The D major blues scale has 6 notes: D E F F♯ A B (D, E, F, F sharp, A, and B).
- D 1
- E 2
- F ♭3
- F♯ F sharp 3
- A 5
- B 6
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 17. The root (D) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Box 3 (frets 4 to 7), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 4 (F♯), 7 (A)
- string 3: 4 (B), 7 (D)
- string 2: 5 (E), 6 (F), 7 (F♯)
- string 1: 7 (A)
Box 4 (frets 7 to 10), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 7 (A), 9 (B)
- string 3: 7 (D), 9 (E), 10 (F)
- string 2: 7 (F♯), 10 (A)
- string 1: 9 (B)
Box 5 (frets 9 to 12), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 9 (B), 12 (D)
- string 3: 9 (E), 10 (F), 11 (F♯)
- string 2: 10 (A), 12 (B)
- string 1: 12 (D)
Box 1 (frets 11 to 16), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 12 (D), 14 (E), 15 (F)
- string 3: 11 (F♯), 14 (A)
- string 2: 12 (B), 15 (D)
- string 1: 14 (E), 15 (F), 16 (F♯)
Box 2 (frets 14 to 17), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 14 (E), 15 (F), 16 (F♯)
- string 3: 14 (A), 16 (B)
- string 2: 15 (D), 17 (E)
- string 1: 15 (F), 16 (F♯)
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
- W
- E
- H
- F
- H
- F♯
- 1½W
- A
- W
- B
- 1½W
- D
Degrees: 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 3 · 5 · 6. Steps: W – H – H – 1½W – W – 1½W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the major blues scale
Major pentatonic with the minor third as a passing note. Happy, with a touch of blues.
Scales with the same notes
Relative minor: B 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)
Major blues in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the D major blues scale?
The notes of the D major blues scale are D, E, F, F sharp, A, and B. The root, degree 1, is D.
What is the formula of the D major blues scale?
In degrees: 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 3 · 5 · 6. In steps between the notes: W – H – H – 1½W – W – 1½W (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do you play the D major 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.