D whole-tone scale on guitar
The D whole-tone scale has 6 notes: D E F♯ G♯ A♯ C (D, E, F sharp, G sharp, A sharp, and C). The diagrams work the same for acoustic and electric guitar.
- D 1
- E 2
- F♯ F sharp 3
- G♯ G sharp ♯4
- A♯ A sharp ♯5
- C ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 15. The root (D) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Position 3 (frets 2 to 6), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 2 (F♯), 4 (G♯), 6 (A♯)
- string 5: 3 (C), 5 (D)
- string 4: 2 (E), 4 (F♯), 6 (G♯)
- string 3: 3 (A♯), 5 (C)
- string 2: 3 (D), 5 (E)
- string 1: 2 (F♯), 4 (G♯), 6 (A♯)
Position 4 (frets 4 to 8), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 4 (G♯), 6 (A♯), 8 (C)
- string 5: 5 (D), 7 (E)
- string 4: 4 (F♯), 6 (G♯), 8 (A♯)
- string 3: 5 (C), 7 (D)
- string 2: 5 (E), 7 (F♯)
- string 1: 4 (G♯), 6 (A♯), 8 (C)
Position 5 (frets 6 to 10), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 6 (A♯), 8 (C), 10 (D)
- string 5: 7 (E), 9 (F♯)
- string 4: 6 (G♯), 8 (A♯), 10 (C)
- string 3: 7 (D), 9 (E)
- string 2: 7 (F♯), 9 (G♯)
- string 1: 6 (A♯), 8 (C), 10 (D)
Position 6 (frets 8 to 12), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 8 (C), 10 (D), 12 (E)
- string 5: 9 (F♯), 11 (G♯)
- string 4: 8 (A♯), 10 (C), 12 (D)
- string 3: 9 (E), 11 (F♯)
- string 2: 9 (G♯), 11 (A♯)
- string 1: 8 (C), 10 (D), 12 (E)
Position 1 (frets 10 to 14), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 10 (D), 12 (E), 14 (F♯)
- string 5: 11 (G♯), 13 (A♯)
- string 4: 10 (C), 12 (D), 14 (E)
- string 3: 11 (F♯), 13 (G♯)
- string 2: 11 (A♯), 13 (C)
- string 1: 10 (D), 12 (E), 14 (F♯)
Position 2 (frets 11 to 15), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 12 (E), 14 (F♯)
- string 5: 11 (G♯), 13 (A♯), 15 (C)
- string 4: 12 (D), 14 (E)
- string 3: 11 (F♯), 13 (G♯), 15 (A♯)
- string 2: 13 (C), 15 (D)
- string 1: 12 (E), 14 (F♯)
Fretboard positions
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 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
- W
- F♯
- W
- G♯
- W
- A♯
- W
- C
- W
- D
Degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · ♯4 · ♯5 · ♭7. Steps: W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the whole-tone scale
Six notes a whole step apart. Mysterious and dreamlike; fits augmented chords.
Scales with the same notes
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)
Whole-tone in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the D whole-tone scale?
The notes of the D whole-tone scale are D, E, F sharp, G sharp, A sharp, and C. The root, degree 1, is D.
What is the formula of the D whole-tone scale?
In degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · ♯4 · ♯5 · ♭7. In steps between the notes: W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do you play the D whole-tone scale on guitar?
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (D). There are 6 positions on guitar, each with the full fingering.