About the E Diminished Scale (Whole-Half)
The E diminished scale is a 8-note scale. Symmetric scale alternating whole and half steps, used over diminished chords. Its notes are E, F#, G, A, A#, C, C# and D#, built from the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 6 7.
- Notes
- E – F# – G – A – A# – C – C# – D#
- Formula
- 1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 6 7
- Steps
- W H W H W H W H (2–1–2–1–2–1–2–1 semitones)
- Root
- E
E Diminished Scale (Whole-Half) degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | Root |
| 2 | F# | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | G | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | A | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | A# | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | C | Minor 6th |
| 6 | C# | Major 6th |
| 7 | D# | Major 7th |
Where to play the E Diminished Scale (Whole-Half) 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, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12 |
| A1 | 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| D2 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 |
| G2 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12 |
How to practice the diminished scale
- Learn the repeating 2-fret pattern
- Use over dim7 chords and passing diminished
- Practice diminished 7th arpeggios within scale
- Work on bebop-style enclosures
- Transpose in minor 3rds to see symmetry
Scales with the same notes as E Diminished Scale (Whole-Half)
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 (Half-Whole)
- 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)