fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON TENOR

D Major Blues

Major pentatonic + the chromatic ♭3 passing tone. Country, rockabilly, and bluegrass colour.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
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Tempo120 bpm

Audio source: FluidR3_GM SoundFont (public domain)

Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title D Major Blues Verovio
Keyboard
DEE♯ABDEE♯ABDEE♯ABDF♯F♯F♯
Related scales
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
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Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the D Major Blues scale?

The D Major Blues scale uses the notes D, E, E♯, F♯, A, B (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What's the Major Blues scale formula?

The Major Blues scale follows the interval pattern W H H W+H W W+H, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on D to get the D Major Blues scale.

What chords work over D Major Blues?

Major Blues works over the I7 / IV7 / V7 of country / bluegrass / rockabilly progressions. The ♭3 is a passing tone.

How do I finger D Major Blues on Tenor?

Singing scales (solfège) trains pitch accuracy + interval recognition. Use moveable Do (Do = tonic) so any scale starts on Do. The major scale solfège (Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Ti-Do) is the universal pattern.

When would I use the Major Blues scale?

Major pentatonic + the chromatic ♭3 passing tone. Country, rockabilly, and bluegrass colour.