fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON DOUBLE BASS

B Diminished Half Whole

Octatonic — half-whole-half-whole. Modern jazz over dominant 7th chords; symmetric every minor 3rd.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
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Meter:Octave per barCrotchets in 4/4Quavers in 4/4Triplets in 4/4
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title B Diminished (Half-Whole)
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 2 4 6 8 title B Diminished (Half-Whole)
Verovio
Tempo120 bpm

Playback sounds an octave below the written notation — the instrument's concert (sounding) pitch.

Audio source: synthesised in-browser via Tone.js (MIT)

FingeringFollows the scale as it plays — written pitch, matches the staff
BA stringGDAEoctave nodeoctave nodeoctave nodeoctave node
Related scales
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
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Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the B Diminished Half Whole scale?

The B Diminished Half Whole scale uses the notes B, C, D, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What's the Diminished Half Whole scale formula?

The Diminished Half Whole scale follows the interval pattern H W H W H W H W, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on B to get the B Diminished Half Whole scale.

What chords work over B Diminished Half Whole?

Try chord pairings derived from the scale's third, fifth, and seventh degrees as roots — they share the most diatonic notes.

How do I finger B Diminished Half Whole on Double Bass?

On bowed strings, scales train both fingering and bow technique. First-position fingerings cover most scales up to one octave; second-, third-, and fourth-position shifts unlock the higher register. The 1-2-3-4 finger pattern adapts to the half-step + whole-step positions per scale.

When would I use the Diminished Half Whole scale?

Octatonic — half-whole-half-whole. Modern jazz over dominant 7th chords; symmetric every minor 3rd.