STRINGSCALES

D whole tone Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G#, A#, B#, D, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

A string: A#, B#, D, E, F#, G# at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11

D string: D, E, F#, G#, A#, B#, D at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

G string: G#, A#, B#, D, E, F# at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11

B string: B#, D, E, F#, G#, A# at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11

High E string: E, F#, G#, A#, B#, D, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

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D whole tone

The whole tone scale moves in nothing but whole steps, six notes with no half step anywhere and therefore no leading tone and no home. Debussy made its weightless blur famous, and it remains shorthand for dream sequences and augmented tension. There are only two whole tone collections in existence, so every fingering repeats every whole step up the neck. Use it over 7#5 chords, where every note lands.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

D

I

E

II

F♯

III

G♯

#IV

A♯

#V

B♯

#VI

whole tone in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Everything moves in whole steps from D up, so use symmetrical fingerings: two notes per string, shift, repeat; one shape covers the whole neck.
  • Play it over an augmented triad or 7#5 chord in D; every scale tone is consonant with that harmony.
  • There are only two whole tone scales in existence; move any lick up two frets and it repeats exactly.
  • Use it in short bursts as a dream-sequence transition, then resolve to a diatonic scale; sustained whole tone loses its magic fast.

How to play D whole tone on guitar

Open D sounds the root of D whole tone, with both E strings adding the second, so a root-plus-whole-step drone comes straight off the open strings. No other string stays in the collection. Move any pattern 2 frets along the neck and the pitch set is unchanged, which means the fret 10 root box recycles itself in both directions. Barre anchors sit at fret 5 for the A-shape and fret 10 for the E-shape, before a shift at fret 14.

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