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D♭ ionian pentatonic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, Gb, Ab, C, Db at frets 1, 2, 4, 8, 9

A string: C, Db, F, Gb, Ab at frets 3, 4, 8, 9, 11

D string: F, Gb, Ab, C, Db at frets 3, 4, 6, 10, 11

G string: Ab, C, Db, F, Gb at frets 1, 5, 6, 10, 11

B string: C, Db, F, Gb, Ab at frets 1, 2, 6, 7, 9

High E string: F, Gb, Ab, C, Db at frets 1, 2, 4, 8, 9

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Db ionian pentatonic

The ionian pentatonic keeps the root, major 3rd, 4th, 5th and major 7th of the major scale. Unlike the common major pentatonic it keeps both half-step tendencies (4 and 7), so it sounds like a compressed major scale rather than an open one. It outlines a major 7th chord with one passing tone, making it a compact source of maj7 arpeggio lines.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

D♭

I

F

III

G♭

IV

A♭

V

C

VII

Same notes, different mode

Db ionian pentatonic uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

F pelog

ionian pentatonic in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • A maj7 arpeggio plus the 4th: the root, 3rd (F), 4th (Gb), 5th (Ab) and 7th (C); play it as chord tones with one passing note and lines write themselves.
  • Both half steps resolve like the full major scale, the 4th (Gb) falling to the 3rd and the 7th (C) rising to Db, so the five notes still sound complete.
  • Use it over maj7 chords when the ordinary major pentatonic feels too country; the VII changes the register of the sound.
  • Practice the IV-III and VII-root resolutions as ornaments (hammer-ons into the chord tone) for melodic comping in Db.

How to play D♭ ionian pentatonic on guitar

No open string sounds a scale tone in Db ionian pentatonic, so every voicing is fretted. Place a capo at fret 1 and the C fingerings take over, which means the natural-key shapes transfer wholesale. Both E strings carry the root at fret 9 and the A string at fret 4, so barre grips at 9 and 4 offer two starting registers. Three flats sit in the signature. F pelog uses the identical fingering, 4 semitones above.

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