D Minor Pentatonic Scale
Notes in the D Minor Pentatonic Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | D | 293.665 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | G | 391.995 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | A | 440.000 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | C | 261.626 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | D | F |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F | G |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | G | A |
| 4 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | A | C |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | C | D |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | D (complex) | other |
| ♭3 | F | F (complex) | other |
| 4 | G | G (complex) | other |
| 5 | A | A (complex) | other |
| ♭7 | C | C (complex) | other |
Key Signature
2 ♯ — The D key signature uses F#, C#.
D Minor Pentatonic Scale in Practice
The D Minor Pentatonic Scale uses the key signature of 2 sharps (F#, C#). D major has two sharps (F# and C#) and is known for its bright, brilliant sound. It is the natural key for violin and is widely used in orchestral and folk music. On guitar, D positions offer open-string resonance for fingering positions for this scale.
The minor pentatonic scale is the most commonly used scale in blues and rock music. It contains five notes with a raw, expressive sound ideal for improvisation.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
Related Scales
Guitar: D Minor Pentatonic Scale Positions
The D key offers 2 sharps (F#, C#) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like D are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.