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D gypsy minor scale on guitar
D gypsy minor contains D, E, F, A♭, A, B♭, C♯. Box 1 has the root on string 5, fret 5.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, ♭5, 5, ♭6, 7
How do you play the D gypsy minor scale on guitar?
D gypsy minor in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 14 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to F on the high e string at fret 1. The root falls on the D string at fret 0 and the B string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 1 | E, F |
| 5 (A) | 0, 1 | A, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 0, 2, 3 | D, E, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 2, 3 | A♭, A, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 3 | C♯, D |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1 | E, F |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
D gypsy minor in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 15 notes across 6 strings, from A♭ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. 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, 6 | A♭, A, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 5, 7 | C♯, D, E |
| 4 (D) | 6, 7 | A♭, A |
| 3 (G) | 6, 7 | C♯, D |
| 2 (B) | 5, 6 | E, F |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 6 | A♭, A, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
D gypsy minor in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 14 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to C♯ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the G string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 9 | B♭, C♯ |
| 5 (A) | 7, 8 | E, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 7, 8 | A♭, A, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 7, 9 | C♯, D, E |
| 2 (B) | 6, 9 | F, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 9 | B♭, C♯ |
Box 4 · frets 10–13
D gypsy minor in box 4 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 15 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, 12, 13 | D, E, F |
| 5 (A) | 11, 12, 13 | A♭, A, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 12 | C♯, D |
| 3 (G) | 10, 13 | F, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 10, 11 | A, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 10, 12, 13 | D, E, F |
Why it sounds like that
D gypsy minor is D harmonic minor with the fourth degree raised: G becomes A♭. The 1½-step gap between F and A♭ is characteristic. See D harmonic minor for the unaltered form.
When to use it
Use D gypsy minor over D minor or D 5th chords. The ♭5 adds colour to D minor and D 5th. It fits Eastern European and jazz styles.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It places the root on string 5, fret 5 and covers frets 0–3, setting up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in D gypsy minor?
D, E, F, A♭, A, B♭, C♯. The fourth degree is flattened. The seventh is major.
Which chords fit D gypsy minor?
D minor and D 5th are the primary chords. The flat fifth creates tension. Use it in minor progressions.
What is the difference between D gypsy minor and D harmonic minor?
D gypsy minor raises the fourth degree from G to A♭. This creates a 1½-step gap between F and A♭. The rest of the scale matches D harmonic minor.