Package leaflet · Information for the musician · Scale
C sharp Whole-Half Diminished Scale
Mysterious, suspended and restless. The whole-half symmetry gives a cool, spooky colour that never quite settles.
- 8 notes
- 5 ♯
- symmetric
1Composition: what it contains
C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G – A – A♯ – B♯
- Formula
- 1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 6 7
- Steps
- W – H – W – H – W – H – W – H
- Number of notes
- 8
- Sharps and flats
- 5 ♯
- Also called
- diminished scale, octatonic scale (whole-half), auxiliary diminished
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C♯ | unison | 0 |
| 2 | D♯ | major second | 2 |
| ♭3 | E | minor third | 3 |
| 4 | F♯ | perfect fourth | 5 |
| ♭5 | G | diminished fifth | 6 |
| ♭6 | A | minor sixth | 8 |
| 6 | A♯ | major sixth | 9 |
| 7 | B♯ | major seventh | 11 |
2Appearance: diagrams and sound
Tip: click any note, key or fret to hear it. Orange = root.
3Indications: what it is used for
The scale for diminished seventh chords: it contains the four chord tones plus four notes a whole step above each, all usable as tensions. Use it over vii°7 chords resolving to a tonic, passing diminished chords (for instance between I and ii), and diminished chords used for drama in classical, film, jazz and progressive metal. It also suits minor-major colours in modern jazz. Like the other diminished scale, it repeats every minor third, giving only three distinct versions.
4Dosage: how to practise it
Eight minutes daily at 60–90 BPM. Play the diminished seventh arpeggio first, then fill in each whole step above the chord tones. Practise symmetrical sequences moved by minor thirds and four-note groups. On guitar, use the two-fret, then one-fret repeating pattern across strings and move it in three-fret steps. On piano, play a diminished seventh chord in the left hand and improvise with the right, landing on chord tones on downbeats. Then practise in a passing-diminished progression.
5Warnings and common mistakes
Starting with a whole step makes it different from the half-whole scale: using it over a dominant seventh chord puts a natural fourth and a major seventh against the chord, which clash. Do not expect a tonal centre; resolve phrases to the next chord. Because of the eight notes, one letter name must appear twice or with double accidentals, which confuses readers. Do not mistake the symmetry for a licence to wander; outline the chord.
6Interactions with chords, scales and keys
Chords that fit this scale
Same notes, different starting point
7Other presentations available
The same scale from every note
- C Whole-Half Diminished Scale
- D Whole-Half Diminished Scale
- E flat Whole-Half Diminished Scale
- E Whole-Half Diminished Scale
- F Whole-Half Diminished Scale
- F sharp Whole-Half Diminished Scale
- G Whole-Half Diminished Scale
- G sharp Whole-Half Diminished Scale
- A Whole-Half Diminished Scale
- B flat Whole-Half Diminished Scale
- B Whole-Half Diminished Scale
Other scales from the same note
- D flat Major Scale
- C sharp Natural Minor Scale
- C sharp Harmonic Minor Scale
- C sharp Melodic Minor Scale
- C sharp Dorian Mode
- C sharp Phrygian Mode
- D flat Lydian Mode
- D flat Mixolydian Mode
- C sharp Locrian Mode
- D flat Major Pentatonic Scale
- C sharp Minor Pentatonic Scale
- C sharp Blues Scale
- D flat Major Blues Scale
- D flat Whole Tone Scale
- C sharp Half-Whole Diminished Scale
- C sharp Phrygian Dominant Scale
- C sharp Hungarian Minor Scale
- D flat Lydian Dominant Scale
- C sharp Altered Scale
- C sharp Double Harmonic Major Scale
- D flat Bebop Dominant Scale
Read this leaflet carefully before playing. Keep it near your instrument. Free to use, print and share for personal and educational use.