A Half Diminished Scale
4-string bass · = Locrian ♮2 · 7 notes · minor family
Notes
A
B
C
D
E♭
F
G
Solfège : La – Si – Do – Ré – Mi♭ – Fa – Sol
Interval Structure
A
T
B
½T
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° | diminished |
| iii | Cm | minor |
| iv | Dm | minor |
| V+ | E♭+ | augmented |
| VI | F | Major |
| VII | G | Major |
About this scale
Mode VI of the melodic minor: Locrian with a major 2nd. It is the reference scale over half-diminished chords (iiø7) in jazz, preferred to Locrian whose b2 clashes with the root. 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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