About the G#/Ab Diminished Scale (Half-Whole)
The G#/Ab diminished scale is a 8-note scale. Symmetric scale alternating half and whole steps, used over dominant 7th chords. Its notes are G#, A, B, C, D, D#, F and F#, built from the formula 1 ♭2 ♭3 3 ♭5 5 6 ♭7.
- Notes
- G# – A – B – C – D – D# – F – F#
- 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
- G#/Ab
G#/Ab Diminished Scale (Half-Whole) degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G# | Root |
| ♭2 | A | Minor 2nd |
| ♭3 | B | Minor 3rd |
| 3 | C | Major 3rd |
| ♭5 | D | Tritone (♭5) |
| 5 | D# | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | F | Major 6th |
| ♭7 | F# | Minor 7th |
Where to play the G#/Ab Diminished Scale (Half-Whole) on 5-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (G#) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| E1 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 |
| A1 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12 |
| D2 | 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| G2 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 |
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 G#/Ab Diminished Scale (Half-Whole)
These scales share every note with the G#/Ab diminished scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Diminished scale in other keys
Other scales in G#/Ab
- G#/Ab Minor Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Major Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Mixolydian Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Natural Minor
- G#/Ab Major (Ionian)
- G#/Ab Blues
- G#/Ab Dorian
- G#/Ab Mixolydian
- G#/Ab Phrygian
- G#/Ab Harmonic Minor
- G#/Ab Lydian
- G#/Ab Locrian
- G#/Ab Diminished (Whole-Half)
- G#/Ab Whole Tone
- G#/Ab Augmented (Hexatonic)
- G#/Ab Altered (Super Locrian)
- G#/Ab Phrygian Dominant
- G#/Ab Lydian Dominant
- G#/Ab Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- G#/Ab Bebop Dominant
- G#/Ab Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- G#/Ab Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)