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