About the C#/Db Whole Tone Scale
The C#/Db whole tone scale is a 6-note scale. All whole steps, dreamy and unresolved sound. Its notes are C#, D#, F, G, A and B, built from the formula 1 2 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- C# – D# – F – G – A – B
- Formula
- 1 2 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- W W W W W W (2–2–2–2–2–2 semitones)
- Root
- C#/Db
C#/Db Whole Tone Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C# | Root |
| 2 | D# | Major 2nd |
| 3 | F | Major 3rd |
| ♭5 | G | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | A | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | B | Minor 7th |
Where to play the C#/Db Whole Tone Scale on guitar
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G B E), lowest string first. Root notes (C#) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E2 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 |
| A2 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| D3 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 |
| G3 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| B3 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| E4 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 |
How to practice the whole tone scale
- Practice the even whole-step pattern
- Use over augmented and 7#5 chords
- Work on Debussy-inspired voicings
- Try creating tension before resolution
- Experiment with augmented triads within
Scales with the same notes as C#/Db Whole Tone Scale
These scales share every note with the C#/Db whole tone scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Whole Tone scale in other keys
Other scales in C#/Db
- C#/Db Minor Pentatonic
- C#/Db Major Pentatonic
- C#/Db Mixolydian Pentatonic
- C#/Db Natural Minor
- C#/Db Major (Ionian)
- C#/Db Blues
- C#/Db Dorian
- C#/Db Mixolydian
- C#/Db Phrygian
- C#/Db Harmonic Minor
- C#/Db Lydian
- C#/Db Locrian
- C#/Db Diminished (Half-Whole)
- C#/Db Diminished (Whole-Half)
- C#/Db Augmented (Hexatonic)
- C#/Db Altered (Super Locrian)
- C#/Db Phrygian Dominant
- C#/Db Lydian Dominant
- C#/Db Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- C#/Db Bebop Dominant
- C#/Db Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- C#/Db Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)