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D Whole Tone Scale

Reviewed for accuracy · Last updated June 2026 · Maintained by Justin Evans

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Piano Deck · Scale
Three quick cards on D Whole Tone Scale
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D – E – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – C – D
Formula:W-W-W-W-W-W
Intervals:P1-M2-M3-A4-A5-m7

Practice D Whole Tone Scale

Reading about it is one thing. Drilling it is what makes it automatic.

Scale Drill →Timed runs — every key, every tempoPractice Room →Plug in a MIDI keyboard for real-time feedback

Introduction

D Whole Tone Scale on piano — D, E, F#, G#, A#, C, D
The D Whole Tone Scale shown on a piano keyboard: D, E, F#, G#, A#, C, D.

The D Whole Tone scale contains six notes: D, E, F♯, G♯, A♯, and C. It follows the whole-step / half-step pattern W-W-W-W-W-W.

D Whole Tone Scale Notes

DegreeNameNoteInterval
1RootDP1
2Major 2ndEM2
3Major 3rdF♯M3
♯4Augmented 4thG♯A4
♯5Augmented 5thA♯A5
♭7Minor 7thCm7
8OctaveDP8

Key Signature

The D Whole Tone Scale doesn’t line up with a single major or minor key, so it has no standard key signature. Its notes are written with accidentals as needed.

Accidentals

F♯G♯A♯

D Whole Tone Scale — Frequently Asked Questions

What are the notes of the D Whole Tone Scale on piano?
The D Whole Tone Scale uses the notes D – E – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – C – D. Play them in order from the root up to the octave, hands separately first, then together.
What notes are in the D Whole Tone Scale?
The D Whole Tone Scale contains six notes: D – E – F# – G# – A# – C. The notes table above shows each note with its scale degree and interval from the root.
How many sharps or flats does D Whole Tone have?
The D Whole Tone Scale doesn't correspond to a single major or minor key, so it has no standard key signature. Its notes are written with accidentals as needed: F♯, G♯, A♯.
What does the D Whole Tone Scale sound like?
The D Whole Tone Scale has a dreamy, ambiguous quality with no half-steps — used by Debussy and in dream sequences. Listen to the audio playback above to hear the character on every note.

Related Tools

Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.

References & Further Reading

How this scale page is sourced & verified

The note names, intervals, fingering, and harmony on this page are drawn from the established body of Western music theory and verified against the conventions below — the same fundamentals taught in conservatories and music programs. We list categories of source material rather than individual titles, and reference the standards themselves rather than any single edition.

  • Standard music theory texts — Widely taught fundamentals of pitch, rhythm, and notation.
  • Western tonal harmony conventions — Established rules for chord construction, voice leading, and key relationships.
  • Interval and chord construction standards — The conventional spelling of intervals, triads, sevenths, and extensions.
  • Scale and mode theory — The common derivation of major, minor, pentatonic, blues, and modal scales.
  • Piano pedagogy and technique references — Long-standing practices for fingering, hand position, and practice.

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