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Tuning-specific scale diagram

E Major (Ionian) Scale in D Standard Tuning

E Major (Ionian) Scale in D Standard Tuning shows the same e major (ionian) scale pitch classes across 6 strings tuned D G C F A D. The tuning changes where the same pitch classes sit across the fretboard.

Scale notes
E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#
Formula
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Semitones
0 2 4 5 7 9 11
Parent scale
E major
Tuning
D G C F A D
Strings
6
Open pitch range
D2 to D4
24-fret range
D2 to D6

Open strings and root positions

1 of the 6 open strings belong to E Major (Ionian) Scale: string 2 A (4). None of those open-string tones is the E root, so the root must be fretted on every string.

String 2A4

First root on each string

String 6Fret 2
String 5Fret 9
String 4Fret 4
String 3Fret 11
String 2Fret 7
String 1Fret 2

Low-string pattern

On the lowest D string, the first-octave scale pattern falls at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 11, with the E root at fret 2. On the highest D string, the first E is at fret 2.

Fret 1D#7
Fret 2E1
Fret 4F#2
Fret 6G#3
Fret 7A4
Fret 9B5
Fret 11C#6

Practice this tuning-specific layout

  1. Play E Major (Ionian) Scale on the low D string at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 11, saying each note name and degree aloud.
  2. Build a phrase that lets A on open string 2 ring, then connect it to the nearest E root and two other scale tones.
  3. Connect the E root positions on strings 6 through 1 at frets 2, 9, 4, 11, 7, and 2, adding the nearest scale tone between each pair of roots.

Fretboard diagram

E Major (Ionian) Scale in D Standard Tuning fretboard diagram
E Major (Ionian) Scale in D Standard Tuning guitar fretboard diagram showing D G C F A D.

Open this diagram in the fretboard tool

Start with E Major (Ionian) Scale and d standard tuningloaded, then adjust labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.

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Reference pages

E Major (Ionian) Guitar ScaleMain scale referenceD Standard TuningTuning notes and range
E Major Pentatonic Guitar ScaleD Standard TuningE Major Blues Guitar ScaleD Standard TuningE Mixolydian Guitar ScaleD Standard TuningE Lydian Guitar ScaleD Standard TuningF# Dorian Guitar ScaleD Standard TuningAb Phrygian Guitar ScaleD Standard TuningA Lydian Guitar ScaleD Standard TuningB Mixolydian Guitar ScaleD Standard TuningC# Natural Minor (Aeolian) Guitar ScaleD Standard TuningEb Locrian Guitar ScaleD Standard Tuning
E Major Guitar ArpeggioD Standard TuningE Major 7 Guitar ArpeggioD Standard TuningE Major Add9 Guitar ArpeggioD Standard Tuning

Same scale in other tunings

E Flat Standard TuningEb Ab Db Gb Bb EbC Standard TuningC F Bb Eb G CB Standard TuningB E A D F# BDrop D TuningD A D G B EDrop C# TuningC# G# C# F# A# D#Drop C TuningC G C F A DDrop B TuningB F# B E G# C#DADGAD TuningD A D G A DOpen E TuningE B E G# B EOpen D TuningD A D F# A DOpen G TuningD G D G B DOpen C TuningC G C G C EOpen A TuningE A E A C# E7-String Standard TuningB E A D G B E7-String Drop A TuningA E A D G B E7-String Drop G TuningG D G C F A D8-String Standard TuningF# B E A D G B E8-String Drop E TuningE B E A D G B E