D# Piongio Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Open G tuning — fretboard diagram
D# Piongio in Open G — Notes and Intervals
The D# Piongio scale is a Vietnamese pentatonic scale used in the Northern modal system. On Guitar, its notes are D#, F, G#, A#, C, C#. It is associated with feelings of gaiety, liveliness, and solemnity, serving as a fundamental structure in traditional Southeast Asian art music. Commonly used in Vietnamese, Southeast Asian, World, Folk. Notable players include Trinh Cong Son. Use over sus chords, open tunings, and folk-style accompaniment. The lack of a 3rd allows harmonic flexibility.
Notes: D#, F, G#, A#, C, C#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 b6
Formula: W-WH-W-W-H-W
Number of notes: 6
Tuning: Open G (D-G-D-G-B-D)
About Open G Tuning
Open G tuning (D-G-D-G-B-D) produces a G major chord when strummed open, making it the definitive tuning for slide guitar and delta blues. The tuning's natural consonance means that barring across any fret gives you a major chord, which is why it's been the backbone of blues and roots music for over a century.
From Robert Johnson to Keith Richards, Open G has shaped some of the most iconic music ever recorded. Keith Richards famously removes the low 6th string entirely in this tuning, creating his signature five-string sound on songs like 'Start Me Up' and 'Brown Sugar'. For slide players, Open G is essential — it allows clean, singing slide lines across all strings with minimal effort.
Notable artists: Keith Richards, Robert Johnson, Ry Cooder, Joni Mitchell, The Black Crowes
Best for: Slide guitar, delta blues, Keith Richards-style rock riffs, and open-string fingerpicking
Musical Character
A pentatonic-based scale from the Vietnamese Northern modal system. Its omission of the 3rd creates an open, ambiguous quality that works over both major and minor harmony.