D Minor Six Pentatonic Banjo (5-String) Scale
Banjo (5-String) scale — fretboard diagramIntermediate
D Minor Six Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The D Minor Six Pentatonic scale is a variation of the minor pentatonic that introduces a major sixth, giving it a Dorian flavor. On Banjo (5-String), the notes are D, F, G, A, B. It is more sophisticated and soulful than the standard minor pentatonic and is frequently used in jazz and fusion to outline minor chords with a brighter edge. Commonly used in Jazz, Fusion, Neo-Soul, R&B. Notable players include Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Erykah Badu. Use over m6, m7, mMaj7 chords. Adds a jazz sophistication to minor chord soloing without fully committing to a 7-note scale.
Notes: D, F, G, A, B
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6M
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 5
Formula: WH-W-W-W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Musical Character
By replacing the b7 of the minor pentatonic with a natural 6th, this scale gains a Dorian flavor — brighter and more sophisticated than standard minor pentatonic.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Jazz, Fusion, Neo-Soul, R&B
Notable players: Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Erykah Badu
How to Use the D Minor Six Pentatonic Scale
Use over m6, m7, mMaj7 chords. Adds a jazz sophistication to minor chord soloing without fully committing to a 7-note scale.
Origin & Background
A jazz pentatonic derived from the Dorian mode, emphasizing the characteristic natural 6th.
How to Play D Minor Six Pentatonic on Banjo (5-String)
Begin by locating D on your instrument and play through the 5 notes of the Minor Six Pentatonic scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The D Minor Six Pentatonic scale uses no sharps or flats, consisting entirely of natural notes. This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Practice the D Minor Six Pentatonic scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 80 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 5 notes of the scale.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in D. Try a D5 - A5 - B5 progression. This scale is especially effective in neo-soul contexts.
Banjo (5-String) Tips
Practice the D Minor Six Pentatonic scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 5 notes before building speed. Aim for a soulful quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Minor Six Pentatonic is the Dorian-flavored pentatonic subset. View D Dorian scale
Chord Progressions Using This Scale
- vi – viM7 – vi7 – II (Descending Minor Cliché)Classical / Pop — Romance & Intrigue
- iv – ♭VII – I (Backdoor Cadence)Jazz / Soul — Soulful & Unexpected
The D Minor Six Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (D, F, G, A, B). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Banjo (5-String) with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for D Minor Six Pentatonic
The D Minor Six Pentatonic scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 5-note pentatonic scale, 2-notes-per-string patterns are the most ergonomic way to traverse the fretboard. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore D Minor Six Pentatonic Further
- Browse chord progressions
- D Minor Six Pentatonic on Guitar
- D Minor Six Pentatonic on Ukulele
- D Minor Six Pentatonic on Bass
- D Minor Six Pentatonic on Piano