About the F Diminished Scale (Whole-Half)
The F diminished scale is a 8-note scale. Symmetric scale alternating whole and half steps, used over diminished chords. Its notes are F, G, G#, A#, B, C#, D and E, built from the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 6 7.
- Notes
- F – G – G# – A# – B – C# – D – E
- 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
- F
F Diminished Scale (Whole-Half) degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | Root |
| 2 | G | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | G# | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | A# | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | B | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | C# | Minor 6th |
| 6 | D | Major 6th |
| 7 | E | Major 7th |
Where to play the F Diminished Scale (Whole-Half) on 5-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (F) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12 |
| 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
- 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 F Diminished Scale (Whole-Half)
These scales share every note with the F diminished scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Diminished scale in other keys
Other scales in F
- F Minor Pentatonic
- F Major Pentatonic
- F Mixolydian Pentatonic
- F Natural Minor
- F Major (Ionian)
- F Blues
- F Dorian
- F Mixolydian
- F Phrygian
- F Harmonic Minor
- F Lydian
- F Locrian
- F Diminished (Half-Whole)
- F Whole Tone
- F Augmented (Hexatonic)
- F Altered (Super Locrian)
- F Phrygian Dominant
- F Lydian Dominant
- F Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- F Bebop Dominant
- F Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- F Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)