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D messiaen's mode #5 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: G, G#, A, C#, D, Eb at frets 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11

A string: A, C#, D, Eb, G, G#, A at frets 0, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12

D string: D, Eb, G, G#, A, C#, D at frets 0, 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12

G string: G, G#, A, C#, D, Eb, G at frets 0, 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 12

B string: C#, D, Eb, G, G#, A at frets 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10

High E string: G, G#, A, C#, D, Eb at frets 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11

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D messiaen's mode #5

Messiaen's mode 5 is the smallest of Messiaen's modes: six notes in the pattern half step, major 3rd, half step, repeated, with the tritone as its axis of symmetry. It contains two chromatic clusters a tritone apart and nothing in between, more a sonority than a melody source. Composers use it for static, bell-like harmonic fields.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

D

I

E♭

bII

G

IV

G♯

#IV

A

V

C♯

VII

messiaen's mode #5 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Six notes on D, two chromatic clusters a tritone apart: root, b2 (Eb), IV and their mirror #4 (G#), V, VII.
  • Treat it as harmony, not melody: sustain cluster voicings (root-b2 together, or IV-#4) for bell-like fields.
  • The tritone (root to #4 (G#)) is the axis: phrases that swap the two clusters across it sound composed rather than random.
  • Use long decay: let notes overlap on separate strings; struck as chords it shimmers, run as a scale it stumbles.

How to play D messiaen's mode #5 on guitar

Open D is a root, open A the fifth and open G the fourth, so three strings pedal for free. Past that open D, fretted roots begin at 3 on the B and 5 on the A. Move the whole grip 6 semitones and you land on Ab with the same fingering, which means half the neck is already learned. Two sharps in the signature.

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