D Minor Scale On Guitar

To play the first pattern of the D minor scale place your first finger (index finger) on the 6th string 10th fret and pick down, the place your second finger (ring finger) on the sixth string 12th fret and pick up, then place your fourth finger (pinky finger) on the 13th string 10th fret and pick down the change strings.  (follow the guitar tab above)  

The first pattern of the minor scale is sometimes called the "aeolian pattern" or "aeolian mode" we will not discuss modes here but for a brief explanation on guitar modes click here.

One of the biggest problems aspiring lead guitarist run into with scales is they use the wrong fingers and/or the wrong pick directions which causes their playing to be slow and sloppy so I made sure to include this! 👊

To play the second position of the Dm scale start by placing your first finger on the 6th string 12th fret and pick down, then your second finger on 6th string 13th fret and pick up, then your fourth finger on the 6th string 15th fret and pick down then change strings. This pattern can also be played in open position.
 
The second pattern of the minor scale is sometimes called the "locrian pattern" or "locrian mode" we will not discuss modes here but for a brief explanation on guitar modes click here.

To play the third position of the D minor scale place your index finger on the 6th string 1st fret and pick down, then place your middle finger on the 6th string 3rd fret and pick up, then place your pinky finger on the 6th string 5th fret and pick down.

The third pattern of the minor scale is sometimes called the "ionian pattern" or "ionian mode" we will not discuss modes here but for a brief explanation on guitar modes click here.

** Learning your major scales using the 3 note per string shapes is vastly superior to the CAGED method for speed and fully mastering the fretboard. 🫢

To play the fourth position of the Dm scale start by placing your first finger on the sixth string 3rd fret and pick down, then place your third finger on the 6th string 5th fret and pick up, then place your fourth finger on the 6th string 6th fret and pick down.

The second pattern minor scale is sometimes called the "dorian pattern" or "dorian mode" we will not discuss modes here but for a brief explanation on guitar modes click here.

To play the fifth position of the Dm scale place your index finger on the 6th string 5th fret and pick down, then place your middle finger on the 6th string 6th fret and pick up, then place your pinky finger on the 6th string 8th fret and pick up.  

The fifth pattern of minor scale is sometimes called the "phrygian pattern" or "phrygian mode" we will not discuss modes here but for a brief explanation on guitar modes click here.

To play the six position of the D minor scale start by placing your first finger on the sixth string 6th fret and pick down, then place your second finger on the 6th string 8th fret and pick up, then place your fourth finger on the 6th string 10th fret and down then change strings.

The sixth pattern of the minor scale is sometimes called the "lydian pattern" or "lydian mode" we will not discuss modes here but for a brief explanation on guitar modes click here.

To play the seventh pattern of the D minor scale start by placing your index finger on the 6th string 8th fret and pick down, then place your middle finger on the 6th string 10th fret and pick up, then place your pinky finger on the 6th string 12th fret and pick down then change strings.

The seventh pattern of the minor scale is sometimes called the "mixolydian pattern" or “mixolydian mode" we will not discuss modes here but for a brief explanation on guitar modes click here.