D Blues Diminished Scale on Guitar: Notes

How it is built

D1E♭♭2F♭3F♯3A♭♭5A5B6C♭7

Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7

Chords these notes build

D1D Major D Minor D 5th D 7th D Minor 7th D 7th Flat 5 D Minor 7th Flat 5th D 6th D Minor 6th D Diminished D Diminished 7th
E♭♭2E♭ Diminished E♭ Diminished 7th E♭ Diminished Major 7th
F♭3F Major F Minor F 5th F 7th F Minor 7th F 7th Flat 5 F Minor 7th Flat 5th F 6th F Minor 6th F Diminished F Diminished 7th
F♯3F♯ Diminished F♯ Diminished 7th F♯ Diminished Major 7th
A♭♭5A♭ Major A♭ Minor A♭ 5th A♭ 7th A♭ Minor 7th A♭ 7th Flat 5 A♭ Minor 7th Flat 5th A♭ 6th A♭ Minor 6th A♭ Diminished A♭ Diminished 7th
A5A Diminished A Diminished 7th A Diminished Major 7th
B6B Major B Minor B 5th B 7th B Minor 7th B 7th Flat 5 B Minor 7th Flat 5th B 6th B Minor 6th B Diminished B Diminished 7th
C♭7C Diminished C Diminished 7th C Diminished Major 7th

How do you play the D blues diminished scale on guitar?

D blues diminished in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 17 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the B string at fret 3.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	1, 2, 4	F, F♯, A♭
5 (A)	2, 3	B, C
4 (D)	1, 3, 4	E♭, F, F♯
3 (G)	1, 2, 4	A♭, A, B
2 (B)	1, 3, 4	C, D, E♭
1 (e)	1, 2, 4	F, F♯, A♭

Box 2 · frets 4–7

D blues diminished in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 17 notes across 6 strings, from A♭ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the A string at fret 5 and the G string at fret 7.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	4, 5, 7	A♭, A, B
5 (A)	5, 6	D, E♭
4 (D)	4, 6, 7	F♯, A♭, A
3 (G)	4, 5, 7	B, C, D
2 (B)	4, 6, 7	E♭, F, F♯
1 (e)	4, 5, 7	A♭, A, B

Box 3 · frets 7–10

D blues diminished in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 17 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to D on the high e string at fret 10. The root falls on the low E string at fret 10, the G string at fret 7 and the high e string at fret 10.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	7, 8, 10	B, C, D
5 (A)	8, 9	F, F♯
4 (D)	7, 9, 10	A, B, C
3 (G)	7, 8, 10	D, E♭, F
2 (B)	7, 9, 10	F♯, A♭, A
1 (e)	7, 8, 10	B, C, D

Box 4 · frets 10–13

D blues diminished in box 4 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 17 notes across 6 strings, from D on the low E string at fret 10 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the low E string at fret 10, the D string at fret 12 and the high e string at fret 10.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	10, 11, 13	D, E♭, F
5 (A)	11, 12	A♭, A
4 (D)	10, 12, 13	C, D, E♭
3 (G)	10, 11, 13	F, F♯, A♭
2 (B)	10, 12, 13	A, B, C
1 (e)	10, 11, 13	D, E♭, F

Why it sounds like that

D blues diminished adds a ♭2 to D hungarian major, keeping the same ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7. The scale alternates half and whole steps, creating a tritone between D and A♭. Compare it with D hungarian major to hear the added minor 2nd.

When to use it

D blues diminished fits D major and D minor chords, adding tension with the ♭2 and ♭5. Use it over dominant progressions in G major or E minor for a bluesy, outside flavour.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first: the root sits on string 5, fret 5, covering frets 1–4 and setting up the next position.

Common questions

What notes are in D blues diminished?

D blues diminished contains D, E♭, F, F♯, A♭, A, B, and C. The scale includes both minor and major thirds, a diminished fifth, and a minor seventh.

Which chords work with D blues diminished?

D blues diminished works over D major and D minor chords. The scale's ♭2 and ♭5 create tension that resolves to chord tones.

Is D blues diminished the same as D diminished?

D blues diminished is an eight-note scale, not a diminished seventh chord. It combines a blues scale with a half-whole diminished pattern.