About the G Diminished Scale (Whole-Half)
The G diminished scale is a 8-note scale. Symmetric scale alternating whole and half steps, used over diminished chords. Its notes are G, A, A#, C, C#, D#, E and F#, built from the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 6 7.
- Notes
- G – A – A# – C – C# – D# – E – F#
- 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
- G
G Diminished Scale (Whole-Half) degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | Root |
| 2 | A | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | A# | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | C | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | C# | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | D# | Minor 6th |
| 6 | E | Major 6th |
| 7 | F# | Major 7th |
Where to play the G Diminished Scale (Whole-Half) on guitar
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G B E), lowest string first. Root notes (G) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E2 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12 |
| A2 | 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| D3 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 |
| G3 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12 |
| B3 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 |
| E4 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12 |
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 G Diminished Scale (Whole-Half)
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 (Half-Whole)
- 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)