G Whole-Half Diminished Scale

1Composition: what it contains

G – A – B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭ – E – F♯

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

1 ♯, 3 ♭

Also called

diminished scale, octatonic scale (whole-half), auxiliary diminished

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

Gdim Gdim7

Same notes, different starting point

• C Half-Whole Diminished Scale
• E flat Half-Whole Diminished Scale
• F sharp Half-Whole Diminished Scale
• A Half-Whole Diminished Scale
• C sharp Whole-Half Diminished Scale
• E Whole-Half Diminished Scale
• B flat Whole-Half Diminished Scale

7Other presentations available

The same scale from every note

• C Whole-Half Diminished Scale
• C sharp 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 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

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