D Ritusen Guitar Scale — Drop D

Guitar scale in Drop D tuning — fretboard diagram

D Ritusen in Drop D — Notes and Intervals

The D Ritusen scale is a traditional Japanese pentatonic scale known for its balanced and tranquil nature. On Guitar, the notes are D, E, G, A, B. It has a suspended quality that sounds very peaceful and is a core part of ancient East Asian court music and contemplative melodies. Commonly used in Japanese, World, Ambient, Film Scores. Notable players include Kitaro, Ryuichi Sakamoto. Use over sus2, sus4, and open chords. Its omission of the 3rd creates an ambiguous major/minor quality.

Notes: D, E, G, A, B

Intervals: 1P, 2M, 4P, 5P, 6M

Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5

Formula: W-WH-W-W-WH

Number of notes: 5

Tuning: Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-E)

About Drop D Tuning

Drop D tuning lowers the 6th string from E to D, giving you instant access to heavy power chords with a single finger. This deceptively simple change opens up a world of heavier riffs, deeper bass notes, and new chord voicings that are impossible in standard tuning. The low D string creates a powerful foundation for rhythm playing while keeping the rest of the fretboard familiar.

Drop D is one of the most versatile alternate tunings in modern music. From the crunchy riffs of grunge and alternative rock to the thunderous breakdowns of metal, this tuning has shaped the sound of countless iconic songs. It's also surprisingly useful for fingerpicking and acoustic arrangements where you need a deep bass drone.

Hard RockMetalGrungeAlternativeAcoustic Fingerpicking

Notable artists: Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, Rage Against the Machine, Tool, Killswitch Engage

Best for: Power chords, heavy riffs, drop-tuned metal rhythm, and acoustic arrangements with a deep bass drone

Explore This Scale in Other Tunings

← All Guitar scales in Drop D tuning