F Whole Tone Scale

1Composition: what it contains

F – G – A – B – C♯ – E♭

Formula

1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♭7

Steps

W – W – W – W – W – W

Number of notes

6

Sharps and flats

1 ♯, 1 ♭

Also called

hexatonic whole-tone scale, augmented scale (loosely)

2Appearance: diagrams and sound

Tip: click any note, key or fret to hear it. Orange = root.

3Indications: what it is used for

Six notes, each a whole step apart (1-2-3-♯4-♯5-♭7). It fits augmented triads, dominant seventh chords with a raised fifth (7♯5, 9♯5) and dominant seventh chords with a flat fifth (7♭5). Impressionist composers used it for atmosphere; jazz players use it over V7♯5 resolving to I, and film scores use it for dream sequences and flashbacks. There are only two different whole-tone scales: every root belongs to one of them. Jazz pianists also use it for symmetrical runs that descend through a dominant chord before resolving.

4Dosage: how to practise it

Five to eight minutes daily. Play it at 60–90 BPM in eighth notes, then in groups of three, and as two interlocking augmented triads. On guitar, use the symmetrical two-notes-per-string pattern that shifts by a whole step, or three-notes-per-string shapes moving up the neck. On piano, notice the group of three and group of two keys that alternate; practise both scales. Improvise over an augmented chord or a 7♯5 chord and resolve to a major chord a fifth below.

5Warnings and common mistakes

Do not use it over plain dominant chords with a natural fifth: the ♯5 will clash. Because it is symmetrical, it can sound aimless quickly; use it for a bar or two, then resolve. Its spelling is ambiguous: the same notes can be written with a ♯4/♭5 and a ♯5/♭6, and every six-note scale needs one letter skipped. Do not mix it up with the Lydian dominant, which shares four notes but has a natural fifth.

6Interactions with chords, scales and keys

Chords that fit this scale

Faug F7♯5 F7♭5

Same notes, different starting point

• D flat Whole Tone Scale
• E flat Whole Tone Scale
• G Whole Tone Scale
• A Whole Tone Scale
• B Whole Tone Scale

7Other presentations available

The same scale from every note

• C Whole Tone Scale
• D flat Whole Tone Scale
• D Whole Tone Scale
• E flat Whole Tone Scale
• E Whole Tone Scale
• G flat Whole Tone Scale
• G Whole Tone Scale
• A flat Whole Tone Scale
• A Whole Tone Scale
• B flat Whole Tone Scale
• B Whole Tone Scale

Other scales from the same note

• F Major Scale
• F Natural Minor Scale
• F Harmonic Minor Scale
• F Melodic Minor Scale
• F Dorian Mode
• F Phrygian Mode
• F Lydian Mode
• F Mixolydian Mode
• F Locrian Mode
• F Major Pentatonic Scale
• F Minor Pentatonic Scale
• F Blues Scale
• F Major Blues Scale
• F Half-Whole Diminished Scale
• F Whole-Half Diminished Scale
• F Phrygian Dominant Scale
• F Hungarian Minor Scale
• F Lydian Dominant Scale
• E sharp Altered Scale
• F Double Harmonic Major Scale
• F Bebop Dominant Scale