About the F Whole Tone Scale
The F whole tone scale is a 6-note scale. All whole steps, dreamy and unresolved sound. Its notes are F, G, A, B, C# and D#, built from the formula 1 2 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- F – G – A – B – C# – D#
- Formula
- 1 2 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- W W W W W W (2–2–2–2–2–2 semitones)
- Root
- F
F Whole Tone Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | Root |
| 2 | G | Major 2nd |
| 3 | A | Major 3rd |
| ♭5 | B | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | C# | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | D# | Minor 7th |
Where to play the F Whole Tone Scale on guitar
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G B E), lowest string first. Root notes (F) 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 F Whole Tone Scale
These scales share every note with the F 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 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 Diminished (Whole-Half)
- 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)