D Whole Tone Pentatonic Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
D Whole Tone Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The D Whole Tone Pentatonic scale is a weightless and tonally ambiguous five-note scale. On Guitar, the notes are D, F#, Ab, Bb, C. Because it lacks a traditional center, it creates a blurring effect, making it highly effective for dream sequences, transitions, and creating a sense of suspended reality in film scores. Commonly used in Film Scores, Ambient, Impressionist, Experimental. Notable players include Claude Debussy, Bill Frisell. Use over augmented chords, whole tone passages. Effective for creating a sense of suspended reality.
Notes: D, F#, Ab, Bb, C
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5d, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 3 b4 b5
Formula: 4-W-W-W-W
Number of notes: 5
How to Play D Whole Tone 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 Whole Tone Pentatonic scale contains both sharps and flats (1 sharp, 2 flats), which is common in altered and exotic scales. This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Practice the D Whole Tone Pentatonic scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 80 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 5 notes of the scale.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in D. Try a D5 - Bb5 - C5 progression.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, try playing the D Whole Tone Pentatonic scale using legato technique (hammer-ons and pull-offs) to develop a smooth, connected sound. This is particularly effective for pentatonic scale runs.
The D Whole Tone Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (D, F#, Ab, Bb, C). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for D Whole Tone Pentatonic
The D Whole Tone 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 Whole Tone Pentatonic Further
- Harmonize the D Whole Tone Pentatonic scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic on Ukulele
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic on Bass
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic on Piano
Explore D Whole Tone Pentatonic in Other Tunings
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Whole Tone Pentatonic in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)