Guitar Scale Logic

Interactive Guitar Scale Finder

Guitar Scale Logic

A Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale in Drop D

Minor Pentatonic scale notes, fretboard positions and guitar tabs for Drop D.

Formula 1 b3 4 5 b7
Tuning E B G D A D
Scale Notes 5 notes

Interactive fretboard

Scale Map

Root notes are highlighted in amber. Use the buttons to isolate each five-fret position.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
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E E
G
A
C
D
E
G
A
C
D
B
C
D
E
G
A
C
D
E
G
A
G G
A
C
D
E
G
A
C
D
E
D D
E
G
A
C
D
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G
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A A
C
D
E
G
A
C
D
E
G
D D
E
G
A
C
D
E
G
A
C
Root Note Scale Note

Scale Tablature

Position 1

E|------------------------0--3--|
B|------------------1--3--------|
G|------------0--2--------------|
D|------0--2--------------------|
A|0--3--------------------------|
D|------------------------------|

0-4 frets • five-fret position fragment • 10 notes

Theory & Context

Why This Shape Works

The A Minor Pentatonic scale uses A, C, D, E, G and the formula 1 b3 4 5 b7. In Drop D tuning, the open strings run E B G D A D from highest to lowest, so use this map rather than a Standard-tuning shape. Use the map to locate each A root, then select a five-fret position to see its tablature. The chord suggestions use notes from this scale.

Overview

Minor Pentatonic sounds direct, punchy and riff-friendly. Try it for blues-rock solos, hard-rock riffs and familiar lead vocabulary. Drop D lowers the sixth string from E to D. The other five strings stay in Standard tuning, so only the low-string notes move.

Practice Tip

Anchor on the root and b7, then add bends around the b3 for feel. In Drop D, check the sixth-string frets before reusing a Standard-tuning pattern.

  • A
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • G

Suggested Chords

Works Well With This Scale

These chords contain notes from the selected scale.

  • Amminor
  • A5power
  • Asus4sus4
  • Am7minor 7
  • C5power
  • Csus2sus2
  • D5power
  • Dsus4sus4
  • Dsus2sus2
  • G5power

Related Pages

Related Scales