C# Half Diminished Scale

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

Notes

C♯
D
E
F♯
G
A
B

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

Interval Structure

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

Scale Chords (triads)

DegreeChord (in C#)Quality
C♯° diminished
II D Major
iii Em minor
iv F♯m minor
V G Major
VI A Major
vii Bm 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 for C# Half Diminished in the interactive app.

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Same scale in other keys