About the E Diminished Scale (Half-Whole)
The E diminished scale is a 8-note scale. Symmetric scale alternating half and whole steps, used over dominant 7th chords. Its notes are E, F, G, G#, A#, B, C# and D, built from the formula 1 ♭2 ♭3 3 ♭5 5 6 ♭7.
- Notes
- E – F – G – G# – A# – B – C# – D
- Formula
- 1 ♭2 ♭3 3 ♭5 5 6 ♭7
- Steps
- H W H W H W H W (1–2–1–2–1–2–1–2 semitones)
- Root
- E
E Diminished Scale (Half-Whole) degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | Root |
| ♭2 | F | Minor 2nd |
| ♭3 | G | Minor 3rd |
| 3 | G# | Major 3rd |
| ♭5 | A# | Tritone (♭5) |
| 5 | B | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | C# | Major 6th |
| ♭7 | D | Minor 7th |
Where to play the E Diminished Scale (Half-Whole) on bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (E) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E1 | 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| A1 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 |
| D2 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12 |
| G2 | 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
How to practice the diminished scale
- Practice the symmetric pattern across strings
- Use over dominant 7♭9 chords
- Work on diminished arpeggio patterns within
- Try jazz fusion-style chromatic lines
- Practice in minor 3rd transpositions (same notes)
Scales with the same notes as E Diminished Scale (Half-Whole)
These scales share every note with the E diminished scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Diminished scale in other keys
Other scales in E
- E Minor Pentatonic
- E Major Pentatonic
- E Mixolydian Pentatonic
- E Natural Minor
- E Major (Ionian)
- E Blues
- E Dorian
- E Mixolydian
- E Phrygian
- E Harmonic Minor
- E Lydian
- E Locrian
- E Diminished (Whole-Half)
- E Whole Tone
- E Augmented (Hexatonic)
- E Altered (Super Locrian)
- E Phrygian Dominant
- E Lydian Dominant
- E Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- E Bebop Dominant
- E Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- E Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)