fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON GUITAR

E Diminished Whole Half

Octatonic — whole-half-whole-half. The 'minor' diminished — works over diminished 7ths.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
Choose a root
Tempo120 bpm

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

Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)

Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title E Diminished (Whole-Half) Verovio
Tuning
FretboardTuning: DADGAD
35791215DADGADD♯EF♯GAB♭CC♯D♯EAB♭CC♯D♯EF♯GAB♭CD♯EF♯GAB♭CC♯D♯EGAB♭CC♯D♯EF♯GAB♭AB♭CC♯D♯EF♯GAB♭CD♯EF♯GAB♭CC♯D♯E
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 E Diminished Whole Half scale?

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

What's the Diminished Whole Half scale formula?

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

What chords work over E Diminished Whole Half?

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 E Diminished Whole Half on Guitar?

On guitar, scales are typically learned as position patterns — three- or four-notes-per-string shapes that move up the neck. The CAGED system positions each scale in five interconnected patterns; the three-notes-per-string approach simplifies modal scales.

When would I use the Diminished Whole Half scale?

Octatonic — whole-half-whole-half. The 'minor' diminished — works over diminished 7ths.