Also written Zhi, Sen-Ritsu or Ritsu-Sen
D Scottish pentatonic uses D, E, G, A, B. Box 1 keeps the root on string 3, fret 2 and string 1, fret 5.
Start from D major pentatonic and raise the third F♯ to G. The intervals are 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 with steps W, 1½, W, W, 1½. This removes the major third for a suspended feel. See D major pentatonic for contrast.
Use it over D5 or Dsus2 to keep the harmony open. The G and A create a suspended colour that suits Scottish folk and modal rock. Try D 5th or D suspended 2nd.
Learn Box 1 first: the root sits on string 3, fret 2 and string 1, fret 5, covering frets 2–5. It gives you the scale in a low position.
D scottish pentatonic in box 1 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 8 notes across 4 strings, from D on the C string at fret 2 up to D on the A string at fret 5. The root falls on the C string at fret 2 and the A string at fret 5.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2, 4 | A, B |
| 3 (C) | 2, 4 | D, E |
| 2 (E) | 3, 5 | G, A |
| 1 (A) | 2, 5 | B, D |
D scottish pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 8 notes across 4 strings, from E on the C string at fret 4 up to E on the A string at fret 7. The root falls on the G string at fret 7 and the A string at fret 5.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4, 7 | B, D |
| 3 (C) | 4, 7 | E, G |
| 2 (E) | 5, 7 | A, B |
| 1 (A) | 5, 7 | D, E |
D scottish pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 8 notes across 4 strings, from G on the C string at fret 7 up to G on the A string at fret 10. The root falls on the G string at fret 7 and the E string at fret 10.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7, 9 | D, E |
| 3 (C) | 7, 9 | G, A |
| 2 (E) | 7, 10 | B, D |
| 1 (A) | 7, 10 | E, G |
D scottish pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 8 notes across 4 strings, from A on the C string at fret 9 up to A on the A string at fret 12. The root falls on the E string at fret 10.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9, 12 | E, G |
| 3 (C) | 9, 11 | A, B |
| 2 (E) | 10, 12 | D, E |
| 1 (A) | 10, 12 | G, A |
Every chord here uses only notes from the scale. Tap one to open it.
The notes are D, E, G, A, and B. They follow the pattern 1, 2, 4, 5, 6. The third is omitted, creating a suspended sound.
D5 and Dsus2 work well because they avoid the third. You can also use E minor and G major for movement. The scale fits over modal vamps.
D major pentatonic has F♯ as the third. Scottish pentatonic raises that to G, the fourth. This changes the interval pattern and removes the major third.