A Diminished (W-H) Scale

4-string bass  ·  8 notes, symmetric  ·  8 notes  ·  minor family

Notes

A
B
C
D
E♭
F
F♯
G♯

Solfège : La – Si – Do – Ré – Mi♭ – Fa – Fa♯ – Sol♯

Interval Structure

A T B ½T C T D ½T E♭ T F ½T F♯ T G♯ A+oct. ½T

About this scale

The whole-half diminished scale (W-H alternation) is a symmetric 8-note scale. Its periodicity of 3 semitones creates total tonal ambiguity — it sounds identically from 4 different roots. Widely used in jazz over diminished chords and b9 dominants.

See fretboard positions, piano and arpeggios for A Diminished (W-H) in the interactive app.

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Same scale in other keys