D Minor Six Diminished Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Open C tuning — fretboard diagram
D Minor Six Diminished in Open C — 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, E, F, G, A, Bb, B, C#. 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, E, F, G, A, Bb, B, C#
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 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
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 Open A
- D Minor Six Diminished in Double Drop D