D Oriental Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Open C tuning — fretboard diagram
D Oriental in Open C — Notes and Intervals
The D Oriental scale is an aggressive and dissonant exotic scale. On Guitar, its notes are D, Eb, F#, G, Ab, B, C. It is frequently used in film and television scores to signal danger, ancient mystery, or high-stakes drama. Commonly used in Film Scores, Metal, Experimental. Notable players include Hans Zimmer, John Williams. Use over sustained bass notes or pedal tones. Best in dramatic, cinematic contexts rather than over standard chord changes.
Notes: D, Eb, F#, G, Ab, B, C
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3M, 4P, 5d, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 5 6 b7
Formula: H-WH-H-H-WH-H-W
Number of notes: 7
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
An aggressive, dissonant exotic scale with dense chromatic clusters. In film and TV, it signals danger, ancient mystery, or high-stakes drama.
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- D Oriental in Standard Tuning
- D Oriental in Drop D
- D Oriental in DADGAD
- D Oriental in Open G
- D Oriental in Baritone (B Standard)
- D Oriental in 7-string
- D Oriental in 8-string
- D Oriental in Drop C
- D Oriental in Drop B
- D Oriental in Open D
- D Oriental in Half Step Down
- D Oriental in Open E
- D Oriental in Open A
- D Oriental in Double Drop D