About the D Diminished Scale (Whole-Half)
The D diminished scale is a 8-note scale. Symmetric scale alternating whole and half steps, used over diminished chords. Its notes are D, E, F, G, G#, A#, B and C#, built from the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 6 7.
- Notes
- D – E – F – G – G# – A# – B – C#
- 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
- D
D Diminished Scale (Whole-Half) degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Root |
| 2 | E | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | F | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | G | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | G# | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | A# | Minor 6th |
| 6 | B | Major 6th |
| 7 | C# | Major 7th |
Where to play the D Diminished Scale (Whole-Half) on 6-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G C), lowest string first. Root notes (D) 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 |
| C3 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 |
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 D Diminished Scale (Whole-Half)
These scales share every note with the D diminished scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Diminished scale in other keys
Other scales in D
- D Minor Pentatonic
- D Major Pentatonic
- D Mixolydian Pentatonic
- D Natural Minor
- D Major (Ionian)
- D Blues
- D Dorian
- D Mixolydian
- D Phrygian
- D Harmonic Minor
- D Lydian
- D Locrian
- D Diminished (Half-Whole)
- D Whole Tone
- D Augmented (Hexatonic)
- D Altered (Super Locrian)
- D Phrygian Dominant
- D Lydian Dominant
- D Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- D Bebop Dominant
- D Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- D Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)