D# Minor Six Pentatonic Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
D# Minor Six Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The D# Minor Six Pentatonic scale is a variation of the minor pentatonic that introduces a major sixth, giving it a Dorian flavor. On Guitar, the notes are D#, F#, G#, A#, C. It is more sophisticated and soulful than the standard minor pentatonic and is frequently used in jazz and fusion to outline minor chords with a brighter edge. Commonly used in Jazz, Fusion, Neo-Soul, R&B. Notable players include Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Erykah Badu. Use over m6, m7, mMaj7 chords. Adds a jazz sophistication to minor chord soloing without fully committing to a 7-note scale.
Notes: D#, F#, G#, A#, C
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6M
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 5
Formula: WH-W-W-W-WH
Number of notes: 5
How to Play D# Minor Six Pentatonic on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 11 on the 6th (low E) to find your D# root note. With only 5 notes, this scale fits comfortably in a two-notes-per-string pattern across all six strings. Focus on learning a single box shape first before connecting positions.
The D# Minor Six Pentatonic scale contains 4 sharps (D#, F#, G#, A#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the D# Minor Six Pentatonic scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (D#-G#, F#-A#) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in D#. Try a D#5 - A#5 - C5 progression.
Guitar Tips
Use hybrid picking (pick + fingers) when playing the D# Minor Six Pentatonic scale on guitar to access wider intervals and string skips that a pick alone cannot handle efficiently.
The D# Minor Six Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (D#, 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 Six Pentatonic
The D# Minor Six Pentatonic 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 5-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 Six Pentatonic Further
- Harmonize the D# Minor Six Pentatonic scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic on Ukulele
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic on Bass
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic on Piano
Explore D# Minor Six Pentatonic in Other Tunings
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- D# Minor Six Pentatonic in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)