Chord Colors

D Aeolian Dominant scale

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About the D Aeolian Dominant scale

D Aeolian Dominant is used for rock, blues and film music with a brooding edge. Think of it as a major-third scale with a flat sixth and seventh.

Its notes are D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. The formula is W W H W H W W. It is the fifth mode of G Melodic Minor Ascending.

Also called Mixolydian 6, Hindu Scale, and Melodic Major.

Learn more about the D Aeolian Dominant scale

In D Aeolian Dominant, the open strings sound E, A, D, and G. The lowest D on a standard-tuned guitar sits at the 5th fret of the A string.

Positions

Playable shapes for this scale up the neck. Tap any note to hear it.

CAGED

Five shapes, each anchored to a chord form you already know, the pop and rock default that ties your scales to your chords. The outlined notes are that chord, so you can see the C, A, G, E, and D shapes inside the scale.

D shapeopen
C shapefr 2
A shapefr 4
G shapefr 7
E shapefr 9
3NPS

3NPS stands for 3 notes per string. It lays the scale out in seven even shapes for rock and metal lead, and favors speed because the picking pattern stays consistent across every string.

Shape 1open
Shape 2fr 1
Shape 3fr 3
Shape 4fr 5
Shape 5fr 6
Shape 6fr 8
Shape 7fr 10
7-position system

7 four-fret boxes, one per scale degree, each a single hand position with almost no shifting. The jazz and classical way, from William Leavitt's Berklee method.

Position 1open
Position 2fr 2
Position 3fr 3
Position 4fr 5
Position 5fr 6
Position 6fr 8
Position 7fr 10

Chords in the key of D Aeolian Dominant

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

I D
Position 1 of 4
ii° E diminished
Position 1 of 4
iii° F sharp diminished
Position 1 of 4
iv G minor
Position 1 of 4
v A minor
Position 1 of 4
VI+ B flat augmented
Position 1 of 4
VII C
Position 1 of 4

Seventh chords in D Aeolian Dominant

The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.

I D seven
Position 1 of 4
ii° E minor seven flat five
Position 1 of 4
iii° F sharp minor seven flat five
Position 1 of 4
iv G minor major seven
Position 1 of 4
v A minor seven
Position 1 of 4
VI+ B flat major seven sharp five
Position 1 of 4
VII C seven
Position 1 of 4

Progressions in D Aeolian Dominant

Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.

Notes and intervals

1DDRoot
2EEMajor 2nd
3F#F♯Major 3rd
4GGPerfect 4th
5AAPerfect 5th
6BbB♭Minor 6th
7CCMinor 7th
StepsW W H W H W W
Semitones2-2-1-2-1-2-2
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Aeolian Dominant in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

Embed this scale

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D Aeolian Dominant scale on guitar shown as colored note dots
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