Db Pentatonic Minor

Dbm Pentatonic scale for guitar.
The D flat Pentatonic Minor is a five-note scale. The diagram shows a fingerboard with the notes in the scale. Darker color marks the root notes. In the two-octave pattern, the first root note is on the 6th string, 9th fret.

Db Pentatonic Minor 2 octaves

Db Pentatonic Minor scale diagram

Db Pentatonic Minor full fretboard

Db Pentatonic Minor scale whole guitar neck diagram

Db Pentatonic Minor with note names

Db Pentatonic Minor scale with note letters diagram

Shape 1 (9th position) with fingerings

Db Pentatonic Minor scale shape 1 diagram

Shape 2 (11th position) with fingerings

Db Pentatonic Minor scale shape 2 diagram

Shape 3 (1st position) with fingerings

Db Pentatonic Minor scale shape 3 diagram

Shape 4 (4th position) with fingerings

Db Pentatonic Minor scale shape 4 diagram

Shape 5 (6th position) with fingerings

Db Pentatonic Minor scale shape 5 diagram
Notes: Db - E - Gb - Ab - B Intervals: 3 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 Type: Pentatonic

The scale and its scale degrees.

Formula Notes
1 Db
b3 E
4 Gb
5 Ab
b7 B

The second and the sixth degrees are omitted, for the reason that the degrees are based on the natural Minor seven-note scale.

The interval formula (3 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 2) can be expound into specific notes of the scale.

Notes (ascending) Interval
Db-E m3
Db-Gb P4
Db-Ab P5
Db-B m7

Abbreviations are used: M / m stands for major / minor and P stands for perfect.

Notes (descending) Interval
Db-B M2
Db-Ab P4
Db-Gb P5
Db-E M6

The notes in the scale can be described as intervals, written as 3 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 from the first note to the first in next octave.
The Db Pentatonic Minor is relative to E Pentatonic Major. Both scales include the same notes but has different root notes.

Some of the chords that are related to this scale are listed here:

  • Dbm
  • E
  • Gbm7
  • Abm7
  • B5

The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the Db Pentatonic Minor scale. Notice that the match is not completely exact, the third (A) in Gbm7 and the fifth (Eb) in Abm7 are not included in the scale.

Related to this scale is the Db Pentatonic Minor add2, adding the 2nd degree. It can be displayed as follows:

Formula Notes Intervals Degrees
1 Db Unison Tonic
2 Eb Major second Supertonic
b3 Fb Minor third Mediant
4 Gb Perfect fourth Subdominant
5 Ab Perfect fifth Dominant
b7 Cb Minor seventh Subtonic

The Db Pentatonic Minor add2 scale, is identical with the Db Minor except for missing the major 6th interval.

Start the audio and play along! Use notes from the scale in the diagram above.

Normal tempo:
Slow tempo:

D flat Pentatonic Minor scale first shape ascending.

Db Pentatonic Minor scale tab

The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.