Whole-Tone Scale

Though it is not as well known or regularly used as its cousins the Minor Pentatonic and Major Scales, the Whole Tone Scale is a unique sound that can add an extra spice to your solos and compositions. The Whole Tone Scale has 6 notes, and they are arranged as such.

Root – M2nd – M3rd – A4th – A5th – m7th

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

C – D – E – F# – G# – Bb

Because the Whole Tone Scale is built out of an Augmented Triad, along with a #11 in the scale, you can use the Whole Tone Scale to solo over a 7#11 or 7#5 chord.

The following Whole Tone 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 Tone Scale One Octave

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Whole Tone Scale Two Octaves

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