Half-Whole Diminished Scale
The half-whole diminished scale alternates half steps and whole steps across eight notes. It supplies the flat ninth, sharp ninth, sharp eleventh and thirteenth over a dominant chord, which makes it the standard altered dominant sound in jazz.
Half-Whole Diminished scale formula
- Formula
- H–W–H–W–H–W–H–W
Half-Whole Diminished scale in every key
- C Half-Whole Diminished
- C♯ Half-Whole Diminished
- D♭ Half-Whole Diminished
- D Half-Whole Diminished
- D♯ Half-Whole Diminished
- E♭ Half-Whole Diminished
- E Half-Whole Diminished
- F Half-Whole Diminished
- F♯ Half-Whole Diminished
- G♭ Half-Whole Diminished
- G Half-Whole Diminished
- G♯ Half-Whole Diminished
- A♭ Half-Whole Diminished
- A Half-Whole Diminished
- A♯ Half-Whole Diminished
- B♭ Half-Whole Diminished
- B Half-Whole Diminished
Other scale types
Frequently asked questions
What is the Half-Whole Diminished scale?
The half-whole diminished scale alternates half steps and whole steps across eight notes. It supplies the flat ninth, sharp ninth, sharp eleventh and thirteenth over a dominant chord, which makes it the standard altered dominant sound in jazz.
What is the formula for the Half-Whole Diminished scale?
The Half-Whole Diminished scale follows the step pattern H–W–H–W–H–W–H–W, where H is a half step and W is a whole step.
