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D major Guitar Chord Scales

Guitar chord scales are alphabetical scales while playing chords.

d major chord scale starting from d major at nut

Lines connect chord tones.

These guidelines are procedural…& 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 chord scale starting from a major at nut

D Major Triads starting on F sharp minor at the nut

d major chord scale starting from f sharp minor at nut

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

d major chord scale on 5 4 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

ARCHIVE

Ground
Using a Capo
Fingerpicking Mechanics
Fingerpicking Arpeggios
Harmonics
Twinkle
Pivot Exercises
Chords
The B Chord
Chord Puzzle Directions
Chord Puzzle
E Form Building Voicings
Chord Numbering System
E, A, D Chord Forms
E Major Chord Scale
D Chord Scales
12 Bar Blues Progressions
Cascade
Creative Exercise
A minor Triads in Notation
minor Key 7th chords
Triad Chord Inversions
7th Chord Inversions
Harmonic Map
By Key: C G D A E B F# Gb Db Ab Eb Bb F
Scales
7 Patterns Tone Names
5 Frames Tone Names
Scale to Chord Linking
E minor Cascades
A Harmonic minor
Blues Scales
E Major - Linear
E Major Guitar Scale
E Natural minor

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