Whole-Half Diminished Scale

Though it is not as well known or regularly used as its cousins the Minor Pentatonic and Major Scales, the Whole-Half Diminished Scale is a unique sound that can add an extra spice to your solos and compositions. The Whole-Half Diminished Scale has 8 notes, and they are arranged as such.

Root – M2nd – m3rd – P4th – D5th – m6th – M6th – M7th

So, for example, a C Whole-Half Diminished Scale would be spelled with the following notes:

C – D – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – A – B

Because the Whole-Half Diminished Scale is built out of an Diminished Triad, along with a Major 7th in the scale, you can use the Whole-Half Diminished Scale to solo over a Diminished Major 7 chord.

The following Whole-Half Diminished Scales are written out in the key of C, but make sure you practice them in all keys so you have them at your fingertips no matter what key you’re soloing in.

Whole-Half Diminished Scale One Octave

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Whole-Half Diminished Scale Two Octaves

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