Everything You Need To Know About How To Play The D Major Scale
In today’s blog, the topic is the D major scale on guitar, a widely used scale in popular music. We’ll explore its notes, intervals, scale positions, and the chords that define the D major key. Ready to dive in? Let’s begin our exploration.
What Are The Notes of D Major?
D – E – F# – G – A – B – C#
In the D major scale, you’ll notice there are two sharps: F# and C#. If you’re ever unsure about the number of sharps or flats in a particular scale, turning to the Circle of Fifths can be a helpful tool for guidance.
Scale Structure
Like other major scales, the D major scale follows the same structure of whole and half-step intervals:
W W H W W W H
D Major Scale Guitar Positions
Position 1
In the first position of the D major scale, you’ll begin with the root note positioned at the 10th fret of the 6th string. Within this position, you’ll encounter three instances of the root note, located on the 6th string, 4th string, and 1st string, respectively.
Position 2
In the second position of the D major scale, you initiate with the root note situated at the 12th fret of the 4th string. Within this position, there are two instances of the root note, with the second occurrence positioned at the 15th fret of the 2nd string.
Position 3
The third position of the scale likewise includes two root notes. The first root, serving as the starting point within this position, is located at the 5th fret of the 5th string. The second root note can be found at the 3rd fret of the 2nd string.
Position 4
In the fourth position, you’ll find two root notes. The first root note, situated on the bass, is at the 5th fret of the 5th string, while the second root note lies on the 7th fret of the 3rd string.
Covering a range of six frets, this position demands some stretching and shifting of hand positions to execute smoothly. Don’t hesitate to try out different fingerings to find what works best for you.
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