Notes in the D Whole Tone scale
| Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | D |
| 2 | E |
| 3 | F♯ |
| ♯4 | G♯ |
| ♯5 | A♯ |
| ♭7 | C |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: D E F♯ G♯ A♯ C.
D Whole Tone scale formula
The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♭7.
How to practise the D Whole Tone scale
Learn it as a rotation of a scale you already know (lydian dominant is melodic minor starting on its 4th note, altered starts on its 7th) and play it over the matching chord with a drone on the root.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes in the D Whole Tone scale?
The notes of the D Whole Tone scale are D E F♯ G♯ A♯ C.
What is the formula for the D Whole Tone scale?
The pattern of whole and half steps is W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♭7.
More D scales
D Major, D Natural Minor, D Harmonic Minor, D Melodic Minor, D Dorian, D Phrygian, D Lydian, D Mixolydian, D Locrian, D Major Pentatonic, D Minor Pentatonic, D Blues, D Lydian Dominant, D Altered, D Dorian ♭2, D Lydian Augmented, D Mixolydian ♭6, D Locrian ♯2, D Phrygian Dominant, D Hungarian Minor, D Double Harmonic, D Diminished (W–H), D Diminished (H–W), D Bebop Dominant, D Bebop Major
Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.