D minor pentatonic scale
D minor pentatonic scale is D – F – G – A – C, all naturals. Formula 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7. Press play and follow the keys.
The notes, one step at a time
From D upward the gaps are W+H W W W+H W (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = a step and a half). Not one half step, so no two notes rub against each other. The wide steps are D–F and A–C.
| Degree | Note | Interval from D | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | root | |
| ♭3 | F | minor third | |
| 4 | G | perfect fourth | |
| 5 | A | perfect fifth | |
| ♭7 | C | minor seventh |
The sound of D minor pentatonic scale
Guitarists learn the minor pentatonic "box" first because it falls under four fingers at one position. D minor pentatonic has the same five notes as F major pentatonic, just starting somewhere else.
Two bends define this box: G pushed up a whole step to A, and C pushed up to D.
D minor pentatonic scale is D natural minor scale without E and B♭. Hear D natural minor scale and compare.
On piano and on guitar
No black keys at all on the piano.
12 notes fit in the box between frets 8 and 14, with D at the 10th fret of the low E string.
Chords to play under D minor pentatonic scale
These chords are built only from the scale's notes, so it sits over any of them: Dm, Dm7, Dsus4, F, Fsus2, Gsus2, Csus2, Gsus4, Csus4, F6, Fadd9.
D minor pentatonic scale shares all its notes with F major pentatonic (starting on the 2nd note, F). Which one you hear depends on which note the music treats as home.
D minor pentatonic scale across the fretboard
Find D first: fret 10 of the 6th string, fret 5 of the 5th. The five pentatonic boxes start on the low E string at frets 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10; each box overlaps the next, and together they cover the whole neck. The first box sits under one hand with two notes per string, the shape most rock and blues solos start from.
On the piano, D minor pentatonic scale uses no black keys at all.
Thirds make the scale sound musical instead of step-by-step: D–G, F–A, G–C, A–D, C–F.
Drills for D minor pentatonic
Running a scale straight up and down only teaches the order. These patterns use the same 5 notes and train your ear and fingers to jump around inside D minor pentatonic scale.
- Three-note runs: D F G · F G A · G A C · A C D.
- Target G: D G D G D: the 4th and ♭7 give the rock and blues sound.
Close relatives of D minor pentatonic scale
Minor pentatonic scale in every key
D minor pentatonic scale: questions
What are the notes of the D minor pentatonic scale?
D, F, G, A and C, then D again at the octave. Formula: 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7.
How many sharps or flats are in the D minor pentatonic scale?
None. Every note is a natural (white key on the piano).
What's the difference between D minor pentatonic scale and D natural minor scale?
It leaves out E and B♭.
What chords go with the D minor pentatonic scale?
Any chord built only from its notes, for example Dm, Dm7, Dsus4, F, Fsus2 and Gsus2.
Notes and fingering generated from the scale formula and checked automatically against the step pattern. Updated September 2026.