About the A Whole Tone Scale
The A whole tone scale is a 6-note scale. All whole steps, dreamy and unresolved sound. Its notes are A, B, C#, D#, F and G, built from the formula 1 2 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- A – B – C# – D# – F – G
- Formula
- 1 2 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- W W W W W W (2–2–2–2–2–2 semitones)
- Root
- A
A Whole Tone Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Root |
| 2 | B | Major 2nd |
| 3 | C# | Major 3rd |
| ♭5 | D# | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | F | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | G | Minor 7th |
Where to play the A Whole Tone Scale on bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (A) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E1 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 |
| A1 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| D2 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 |
| G2 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
How to practice the whole tone scale
- Practice the even whole-step pattern
- Use over augmented and 7#5 chords
- Work on Debussy-inspired voicings
- Try creating tension before resolution
- Experiment with augmented triads within
Scales with the same notes as A Whole Tone Scale
These scales share every note with the A whole tone scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Whole Tone scale in other keys
Other scales in A
- A Minor Pentatonic
- A Major Pentatonic
- A Mixolydian Pentatonic
- A Natural Minor
- A Major (Ionian)
- A Blues
- A Dorian
- A Mixolydian
- A Phrygian
- A Harmonic Minor
- A Lydian
- A Locrian
- A Diminished (Half-Whole)
- A Diminished (Whole-Half)
- A Augmented (Hexatonic)
- A Altered (Super Locrian)
- A Phrygian Dominant
- A Lydian Dominant
- A Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- A Bebop Dominant
- A Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- A Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)