B Half Diminished Scale

4-string bass  ·  = Locrian ♮2  ·  7 notes  ·  minor family

Notes

B
C♯
D
E
F
G
A

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

Interval Structure

B T C♯ ½T D T E ½T F T G T A B+oct. T

Scale Chords (triads)

DegreeChord (in B)Quality
diminished
ii° C♯° diminished
iii Dm minor
iv Em minor
V+ F+ augmented
VI G Major
VII A 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 B Half Diminished in the interactive app.

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Same scale in other keys