D# Minor Six Diminished Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Open A tuning — fretboard diagram
D# Minor Six Diminished in Open A — Notes and Intervals
The D# Minor Six Diminished scale is a sophisticated jazz scale popularized by the Barry Harris method. On Guitar, its notes are D#, F, F#, G#, A#, B, C, D. It is the secret to professional voice leading in bebop, allowing for smooth, elegant movements between minor chords and their related tensions. Commonly used in Jazz, Bebop, Swing. Notable players include Barry Harris, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell. Use over m6 chords and their related dim7 chords. The scale alternates between chord tones and diminished passing tones, creating seamless bebop voice leading.
Notes: D#, F, F#, G#, A#, B, C, D
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6m, 6M, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 8
Formula: W-H-W-W-H-H-W-H
Number of notes: 8
Tuning: Open A (E-A-E-A-C#-E)
About Open A Tuning
Open A tuning (E-A-E-A-C#-E) produces an A major chord when strummed open. It is structurally identical to Open G tuned up one whole step, delivering a brighter, more tense sound that works particularly well for slide guitar centered on the key of A.
Jimmy Page used Open A with a slide on Led Zeppelin's 'In My Time of Dying' from Physical Graffiti (1975). Rory Gallagher also employed Open A for his raw, energetic slide work. Many players achieve Open A by simply placing a capo at the 2nd fret in Open G tuning, which is why dedicated Open A usage is less commonly discussed. However, without a capo, Open A gives direct access to the open A string resonance and a different feel under the fingers due to the higher tension.
Notable artists: Jimmy Page, Rory Gallagher, Delta blues players
Best for: Slide guitar in the key of A, blues playing, and situations where you need the brightness of Open G tuned up without a capo
Musical Character
The 'Barry Harris scale' — an 8-note system that provides the secret to professional voice leading in bebop. It allows for smooth, elegant movements between minor chords and their related diminished tensions.
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- D# Minor Six Diminished in Standard Tuning
- D# Minor Six Diminished in Drop D
- D# Minor Six Diminished in DADGAD
- D# Minor Six Diminished in Open G
- D# Minor Six Diminished in Baritone (B Standard)
- D# Minor Six Diminished in 7-string
- D# Minor Six Diminished in 8-string
- D# Minor Six Diminished in Drop C
- D# Minor Six Diminished in Drop B
- D# Minor Six Diminished in Open D
- D# Minor Six Diminished in Half Step Down
- D# Minor Six Diminished in Open E
- D# Minor Six Diminished in Double Drop D
- D# Minor Six Diminished in Open C