A Half Diminished Scale
4-string bass · = Locrian · 7 notes · minor family
Notes
A
B♭
C
D
E♭
F
G
Solfège : La – Si♭ – Do – Ré – Mi♭ – Fa – Sol
Interval Structure
A
½T
B♭
T
C
T
D
½T
E♭
T
F
T
G
→
A+oct.
T
Scale Chords (triads)
| Degree | Chord (in A) | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| i° | A° | diminished |
| II | B♭ | Major |
| iii | Cm | minor |
| iv | Dm | minor |
| V | E♭ | Major |
| VI | F | Major |
| vii | Gm | minor |
About this scale
The half-diminished scale is equivalent to the Locrian mode. It defines half-diminished chords (iiø7) and is used to improvise over them in jazz cadences. Its b5 creates immediate tension demanding resolution.
See fretboard positions, piano and arpeggios for A Half Diminished in the interactive app.
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