D Half Diminished Scale
4-string bass · = Locrian ♮2 · 7 notes · minor family
Notes
D
E
F
G
A♭
B♭
C
Solfège : Ré – Mi – Fa – Sol – La♭ – Si♭ – Do
Interval Structure
D
T
E
½T
F
T
G
½T
A♭
T
B♭
T
C
→
D+oct.
T
Scale Chords (triads)
| Degree | Chord (in D) | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| i° | D° | diminished |
| ii° | E° | diminished |
| iii | Fm | minor |
| iv | Gm | minor |
| V+ | A♭+ | augmented |
| VI | B♭ | Major |
| VII | C | 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 D Half Diminished in the interactive app.
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