D Minor Hexatonic Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
D Minor Hexatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The D Minor Hexatonic scale is a six-note scale that bridges the gap between the minor pentatonic and full modal scales. On Guitar, it contains the notes D, E, F, G, A, C#. It has a soulful, minor character but offers more melodic flexibility, making it a common choice for blues and jazz-rock soloing. Commonly used in Blues, Jazz-Rock, R&B, Soul. Notable players include B.B. King, Albert King, John Mayer. Use over m7 chords and blues changes. More flexible than minor pentatonic but less complex than full Dorian.
Notes: D, E, F, G, A, C#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 6
Formula: W-H-W-W-4-H
Number of notes: 6
How to Play D Minor Hexatonic on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 10 on the 6th (low E) to find your D root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is open position using open D string.
The D Minor Hexatonic scale contains 1 sharp (C#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the D Minor Hexatonic scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on D to let the characteristic intervals of the Minor Hexatonic scale come through clearly.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the D Minor Hexatonic scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications.
The D Minor Hexatonic scale contains 6 notes (D, E, F, G, A, C#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for D Minor Hexatonic
The D Minor Hexatonic scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 6-note pentatonic scale, 2-notes-per-string patterns are the most ergonomic way to traverse the fretboard. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore D Minor Hexatonic Further
- Harmonize the D Minor Hexatonic scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- D Minor Hexatonic on Ukulele
- D Minor Hexatonic on Bass
- D Minor Hexatonic on Piano
Explore D Minor Hexatonic in Other Tunings
- D Minor Hexatonic in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Minor Hexatonic in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- D Minor Hexatonic in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- D Minor Hexatonic in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- D Minor Hexatonic in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- D Minor Hexatonic in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- D Minor Hexatonic in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- D Minor Hexatonic in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- D Minor Hexatonic in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- D Minor Hexatonic in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- D Minor Hexatonic in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- D Minor Hexatonic in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- D Minor Hexatonic in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Minor Hexatonic in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)