D Super Locrian Pentatonic Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
D Super Locrian Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The D Super Locrian Pentatonic scale is an aggressive and highly dissonant subset of the altered scale. On Guitar, it contains the notes D, F, Gb, Ab, C. It is a primary tool for advanced jazz guitarists and horn players to create outside tension over altered dominant chords before resolving back to the tonic. Commonly used in Jazz, Avant-Garde, Fusion. Notable players include John Coltrane, Michael Brecker. Use over 7alt, 7#9b13 chords. The pentatonic shortcut for maximum 'outside' tension over altered dominants.
Notes: D, F, Gb, Ab, C
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 4d, 5d, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 b5
Formula: WH-H-W-4-W
Number of notes: 5
How to Play D Super Locrian Pentatonic on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 10 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 Super Locrian Pentatonic scale contains 2 flats (Gb, Ab). 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 Super Locrian Pentatonic 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.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in D. Try a D5 - Ab5 - C5 progression.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the D Super Locrian Pentatonic 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 Super Locrian Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (D, F, Gb, Ab, C). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for D Super Locrian Pentatonic
The D Super Locrian 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 Super Locrian Pentatonic Further
- Harmonize the D Super Locrian Pentatonic scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic on Ukulele
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic on Bass
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic on Piano
Explore D Super Locrian Pentatonic in Other Tunings
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Super Locrian Pentatonic in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)