D Flat Six Pentatonic Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Open C tuning — fretboard diagram
D Flat Six Pentatonic in Open C — Notes and Intervals
The D Flat Six Pentatonic scale is a modern synthetic pentatonic used to imply the sound of the melodic minor system. On Guitar, its notes are D, E, F#, A, Bb. It provides a poignant and slightly altered texture to major melodies, making it a favorite for contemporary jazz players looking for fresh melodic paths. Commonly used in Contemporary Jazz, Fusion, Post-Bop. Notable players include Pat Metheny, Kurt Rosenwinkel. Use over Maj7, mMaj7, and altered dominant chords. A modern jazz tool for fresh melodic paths.
Notes: D, E, F#, A, Bb
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 5P, 6m
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 b5
Formula: W-W-WH-H-4
Number of notes: 5
Tuning: Open C (C-G-C-G-C-E)
About Open C Tuning
Open C tuning (C-G-C-G-C-E) produces a C major chord when strummed open, with an enormous bass depth from the low C string (two whole steps below standard E). The tuning spans a vast tonal range that gives compositions an almost orchestral scope, making it a favorite for both delicate fingerstyle and crushing heavy music.
John Butler's 'Ocean' — one of the most famous modern fingerstyle compositions — is performed in Open C, showcasing the tuning's incredible dynamic range from thundering bass to shimmering harmonics. Devin Townsend uses Open C extensively across his catalog for its massive, wall-of-sound potential. Jimmy Page used it on Led Zeppelin's 'Friends' from Led Zeppelin III. Soundgarden also explored Open C. The three C strings and two G strings create powerful octave resonances that make even simple chord shapes sound huge.
Notable artists: John Butler, Devin Townsend, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Soundgarden, William Ackerman
Best for: Cinematic fingerstyle compositions, progressive metal walls of sound, post-rock textures, and any music that needs enormous tonal range from deep bass to bright treble
Musical Character
Implies the melodic minor sound through only 5 notes, providing a contemporary jazz texture that is slightly altered without being fully 'outside'.
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- D Flat Six Pentatonic in Standard Tuning
- D Flat Six Pentatonic in Drop D
- D Flat Six Pentatonic in DADGAD
- D Flat Six Pentatonic in Open G
- D Flat Six Pentatonic in Baritone (B Standard)
- D Flat Six Pentatonic in 7-string
- D Flat Six Pentatonic in 8-string
- D Flat Six Pentatonic in Drop C
- D Flat Six Pentatonic in Drop B
- D Flat Six Pentatonic in Open D
- D Flat Six Pentatonic in Half Step Down
- D Flat Six Pentatonic in Open E
- D Flat Six Pentatonic in Open A
- D Flat Six Pentatonic in Double Drop D