The Fretboard: The D Major Scale and Power Chords in the Key of D

Now let’s play the D Major scale (and the Power Chords in the key of D) on the fretboard.

The D Major scale on a single string (1 octave), with scale degrees

Finger pattern for a 1 octave D Major scale

Guitar and bass: The E, A, D, and G strings shown in this six-string diagram are shared by guitar and standard four-string bass. This scale shape uses the E, A, and D strings and leaves the G string unused; bassists can ignore the B and high E strings. Start on D at the 10th fret of the low E string and finish on D at the 12th fret of the D string. The fret locations work unchanged on bass and sound one octave lower. The printed finger numbers are guitar fingering suggestions; bassists can use the same fingering in this higher position if it feels comfortable, or shift the fretting hand rather than stretch.

In standard notation and tablature

The 6 Power Chords in the key of D