DADGAD Tuning scales

Scales for DADGAD tuning with diagrams and explanation.
What follows is a guide trough different scales covering the alternate tuning named DADGAD (a.k.a. Open Dsus4). Notice that these instructions are invalid for guitars in standard tuning.

Major scales

D Major is the key scale for this particular tuning and its scale can be played in open position.

Two-octaves shape, open position

The fingerboard diagram below shows a D Major scale with all root notes on open strings.

Notes: D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# Intervals: 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 Type: Septonic 

From a full fingeboard perspecive, the D Major scale can be played on open string plus 2nd and 4th frets solely. Another possibility is with open strings plus 4th and 7th frets. This makes it easy to come up with melodies and arpeggios and you can start improvising before learning the whole fretboard. The same principle can be approached to D Minor scale by playing on open strings plus 3rd and 5th frets solely.

Two-octaves movable shape

The diagram below shows a movable scale shape for Major in DADGAD tuning. This is D Major with root notes on the 12th fret.

Minor scales

D Minor is another important key in DADGAD tuning and its scale can also be played in open position.

Two-octaves shape, open position

The fingerboard diagram below shows a D Minor scale with all root notes on open strings.

Notes: D - E - F - G - A - Bb - C Intervals: 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 Type: Septonic 

Two-octaves movable shape

The diagram below shows a movable scale shape for Minor in DADGAD tuning. This is D Minor with root notes on the 12th fret.

Pentatonic scales

The Pentatonic Minor scale in D can be played comfortable in open position.

Two-octaves shape, open position

The fingerboard diagram below shows a D Pentatonic Minor scale in DADGAD tuning.

Notes: D - F - G - A - C Intervals: 3 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 Type: Pentatonic

Two-octaves movable shape

The diagram below shows a movable scale shape for Pentatonic Minor in DADGAD tuning. This is D Minor Pentatonic with root notes on the 12th fret.