Gb Whole-Half Scale Explained

Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cb, Dbb, Ebb, Eb and F are the notes of the Gb whole-half scale, with three double flats in the list. Most players read the same pitches as F# whole-half. The root is the 2nd fret of the low E string either way.

Play the Gb whole-half scale

Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.

Notes of the Gb whole-half scale

NoteDegreeIntervalSemitones from root
Gb1Root0
Ab2Major 2nd2
Bbbb3Minor 3rd3
Cb4Perfect 4th5
Dbbb5Tritone6
Ebbb6Minor 6th8
Eb6Major 6th9
F7Major 7th11

Structure

Gb whole-half scale notes:

Gb Ab Bbb Cb Dbb Ebb Eb F

How the whole-half scale is built:

The whole-half scale is built from the degrees 1 2 b3 4 b5 b6 6 7, which gives the step pattern W-H-W-H-W-H-W-H (W = whole step, H = half step).

Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11. That makes it a 8-note scale.

It is also known as Diminished Scale (Whole-Half).

Gb Whole-Half Scale Guitar Patterns

Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.

Gb Whole-Half Scale scale guitar pattern - On one string (low E)

On one string (low E)

Gb Whole-Half Scale scale guitar pattern - Box pattern — position 1

Box pattern — position 1

Gb Whole-Half Scale scale guitar pattern - Box pattern — position 2

Box pattern — position 2

Gb Whole-Half Scale scale guitar pattern - Box pattern — position 3

Box pattern — position 3

Gb Whole-Half Scale scale guitar pattern - Box pattern — position 4

Box pattern — position 4

Gb Whole-Half Scale scale guitar pattern - Box pattern — position 5

Box pattern — position 5

Gb Whole-Half Scale scale guitar pattern - 3 notes per string — position 1

3 notes per string — position 1

The whole-half scale in other keys

C C# Db D D# Eb E F F# Gb G G# Ab A A# Bb B

All about the whole-half scale →