A Half-Whole Scale on Guitar
Half step, whole step, repeated: A, Bb, B#, C#, D#, E, F# and G make up the A half-whole scale. B# is the theoretical spelling of C.
The open A string is the root, and the 5th fret of the low E string gives you a second. Jazz players know this eight-note scale as the dominant diminished, and it keeps its shape every three frets.
Play the A half-whole scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the A half-whole scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | Root | 0 |
| Bb | b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 |
| B# | #2 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| C# | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| D# | #4 | Tritone | 6 |
| E | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| F# | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| G | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
A half-whole scale notes:
How the half-whole scale is built:
The half-whole scale is built from the degrees 1 b2 #2 3 #4 5 6 b7, which gives the step pattern H-W-H-W-H-W-H-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10. That makes it a 8-note scale.
It is also known as Diminished Scale (Half-Whole) and Octatonic.
A Half-Whole Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (A)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
The half-whole scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
