D Piongio Guitar Scale — Open D
Guitar scale in Open D tuning — fretboard diagram
D Piongio in Open D — Notes and Intervals
The D Piongio scale is a Vietnamese pentatonic scale used in the Northern modal system. On Guitar, its notes are D, E, G, A, B, C. It is associated with feelings of gaiety, liveliness, and solemnity, serving as a fundamental structure in traditional Southeast Asian art music. Commonly used in Vietnamese, Southeast Asian, World, Folk. Notable players include Trinh Cong Son. Use over sus chords, open tunings, and folk-style accompaniment. The lack of a 3rd allows harmonic flexibility.
Notes: D, E, G, A, B, C
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 b6
Formula: W-WH-W-W-H-W
Number of notes: 6
Tuning: Open D (D-A-D-F#-A-D)
About Open D Tuning
Open D tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D) produces a full D major chord when strummed open, creating a warm, resonant sound that has been a staple of slide guitar, folk, and acoustic music for over a century. The three D strings create a deep, droning foundation that makes even simple chord shapes sound lush and full.
Open D is closely related to Open E (same intervals, just a whole step lower) but puts less tension on the guitar neck, making it safer for acoustic instruments. It was a favorite of Joni Mitchell, who used it extensively for her unique chord voicings, and Bob Dylan, who popularized it in folk-rock. For slide players, Open D provides the same intuitive major-chord-at-any-fret approach as Open G but with a warmer, deeper character.
Notable artists: Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, Bruce Cockburn, Elmore James
Best for: Slide guitar, folk fingerpicking, singer-songwriter arrangements, and acoustic compositions with rich open-string resonance
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- D Piongio in Standard Tuning
- D Piongio in Drop D
- D Piongio in DADGAD
- D Piongio in Open G
- D Piongio in Baritone (B Standard)
- D Piongio in 7-string
- D Piongio in 8-string
- D Piongio in Drop C
- D Piongio in Drop B
- D Piongio in Half Step Down
- D Piongio in Open E
- D Piongio in Open A
- D Piongio in Double Drop D
- D Piongio in Open C