G Major Blues Guitar Scale — Open D
Guitar scale in Open D tuning — fretboard diagram
G Major Blues in Open D — Notes and Intervals
The G Major Blues scale is an extension of the major pentatonic that adds a blue note for extra soul. On Guitar, the notes are G, A, Bb, B, D, E. It blends the happy character of major keys with the expressive, vocal-like slides of the blues, and is a staple in country, swing, and jazz-blues contexts. Commonly used in Blues, Country, Jazz, Swing, Southern Rock. Notable players include B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King. Use over major and dominant 7th chords in blues, country, and swing contexts. Mix with minor blues for complete blues vocabulary.
Notes: G, A, Bb, B, D, E
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 3M, 5P, 6M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 6
Formula: W-H-H-WH-W-WH
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
- G Major Blues in Standard Tuning
- G Major Blues in Drop D
- G Major Blues in DADGAD
- G Major Blues in Open G
- G Major Blues in Baritone (B Standard)
- G Major Blues in 7-string
- G Major Blues in 8-string
- G Major Blues in Drop C
- G Major Blues in Drop B
- G Major Blues in Half Step Down
- G Major Blues in Open E
- G Major Blues in Open A
- G Major Blues in Double Drop D
- G Major Blues in Open C