D major Guitar Chord Scales

Guitar chord scales are alphabetical scales while playing chords.

Lines connect chord tones.

These guidelines are procedural...and fluid

1. From Standard Tuning, Drop the low E to a D tone to create Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-E).
2. Strum in any rhythm (listen to your inner resonant rhythms) and change any or all of the following aspects:
• The chords in the diatonic chord scale.
• The range of the strings being strummed - drones and splashes. Drones are a tone (or tones) which ring(s) continuously (in this case the low DAD). Splashes are letting a chord ring out over the repeated droning. Drone, drone, drone, etc, then strum all the strings (whichever chord) and let it ring.
• Touch and press whatever chord you are on. A touch is a mute (keep the shape). A press is fretting.
• Alter the shapes in the chord scale. Modify what's there. Seek out cool sounds.
3. Write a song or a part of a song.

D Major guitar chord scales can also start (at the nut) from different chord scale members than the one chord. This creates an opportunity to stay in a neighborhood (position) and play progressions without shifting.

D Major Triads starting on A Major at the nut

D Major Triads starting on F sharp minor at the nut

D Major Triads on the 5, 4, and 3 strings

In this last instance, we've moved the chord scale to the 5, 4, and 3 strings. C#dim starts the series at the nut.

Figure out these progressions using one or a combination of the maps

• I-ii-V-I
• I-IV-V-I
• I-vi-IV-V
• I-ii-V-IV
• vi-IV-V-ii
• I-V-vi-iii-IV-I-IV-V (Pachelbel's Canon)

More Guitar Chord Scales - E