Scale
D Blues Scale
Interactive keyboard
Highlighted notes form this scale.
Notes
D · F · G · A♭ · A · C
Root: D
Intervals
1 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · 5 · ♭7
How it is built
This scale starts on D and applies the intervals 1, ♭3, 4, ♭5, 5, ♭7. The result contains 6 distinct pitch classes per octave.
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Guide and musical context
About D Blues Scale
D Blues Scale uses the notes D, F, G, A♭, A, C. Its character is expressive and gritty because of the added flat-five blue note.
Character and sound
Expressive and gritty because of the added flat-five blue note.
Musical context and history
The blues scale is commonly understood as minor pentatonic plus the diminished fifth. It belongs to the language developed in the African American blues tradition and has deeply influenced jazz, rock and popular music.
How and where it is used
It is a core resource for improvisation and riffs in blues, rock, funk, soul and jazz.
In Theory view you can hear the pitch collection without depending on a specific fingering. Then switch to Piano, Guitar, Ukulele or Mandolin to see how the same notes are physically distributed on each instrument.
Harmonic and musical relationships
A practical way to understand this scale is to compare it with the major and minor scales starting on D. The altered notes are exactly what create its characteristic color.
The formula on this page is 1 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · 5 · ♭7 and, from D, produces the notes D · F · G · A♭ · A · C.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the D Blues Scale?
The notes are D, F, G, A♭, A, C.
What is its interval formula?
The formula is 1 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · 5 · ♭7.
How does it sound and what is it used for?
Expressive and gritty because of the added flat-five blue note. It is a core resource for improvisation and riffs in blues, rock, funk, soul and jazz.
Can I view it on a specific instrument?
Yes. Use the selector near the top to switch between Piano, Guitar, Ukulele and Mandolin without changing the musical combination you are studying.