D Minor Pentatonic Scale
The D minor pentatonic scale contains D – F – G – A – C. It is D minor without its 2nd (E) and 6th (Bb), so it is usually written in the key signature of D minor: 1 flat: Bb. On the piano, D minor pentatonic uses only white keys.
D minor pentatonic scale chart
Pentatonic and blues scales have no standard book fingering, so none is shown here. Pick fingers that keep your thumb off the black keys.
D minor pentatonic vs D minor
| Degree | 1 | 2 | b3 | 4 | 5 | b6 | b7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor | D | E | F | G | A | Bb | C |
| Pentatonic | D | – | F | G | A | – | C |
E and Bb are the two notes of D minor that sit a half step from a neighbour. Without them the scale has no half steps at all. Its relative is F major pentatonic, which uses the same five keys starting from F. Add one note and it becomes D blues.
What D minor pentatonic is used for
This is the first scale most rock and blues players learn to solo with. It fits over Dm and Dm7, over a minor song in the key of D minor, and over a blues in D, where its F rubs against the major 3rd of the D chord on purpose.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from D | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | 1 | root | 0 |
| F | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| G | 4 | perfect 4th | 5 |
| A | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| C | b7 | minor 7th | 10 |
Step pattern
The minor pentatonic scale is built from the pattern W+H – W – W – W+H – W (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = three semitones). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same scale in a different key.
Key signature
D minor has 1 flat: Bb. The pentatonic plays D, F, G, A and C, so E and Bb simply never sound.
Chords using only these notes
Five notes leave room for few chords, so each of these can be played with D minor pentatonic alone.
| Chord | Notes |
|---|---|
| Dm | D F A |
| Dm7 | D F A C |
| Dsus4 | D G A |
| F | F A C |
| Fsus2 | F G C |
| Fmaj6 | F A C D |
| Gsus2 | G A D |
| Gsus4 | G C D |
| Csus2 | C D G |
| Csus4 | C F G |
More scales on D
Minor Pentatonic scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the D minor pentatonic scale?
The D minor pentatonic scale contains D, F, G, A, C, then returns to D an octave higher.
Which notes does D minor pentatonic leave out of D minor?
The 2nd, E, and the 6th, Bb. What remains is D, F, G, A, C.
What is the relative major pentatonic of D minor pentatonic?
F major pentatonic. It uses the same five keys, with F as its tonic.
What is the step pattern of the minor pentatonic scale?
It follows the pattern W+H – W – W – W+H – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones), H is a half step (one semitone) and W+H is three semitones.