STRINGSCALES

A diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, F#, G#, A, B, C, D, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

A string: A, B, C, D, Eb, F, F#, G#, A at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

D string: D, Eb, F, F#, G#, A, B, C, D at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

G string: G#, A, B, C, D, Eb, F, F# at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

B string: B, C, D, Eb, F, F#, G#, A, B at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

High E string: F, F#, G#, A, B, C, D, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

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A diminished

The diminished scale (the whole-half diminished scale) alternates whole and half steps through eight notes. It serves fully diminished 7th chords, and its minor-3rd symmetry means fingerings repeat every three frets: learn one octave and you own the neck. Jazz and classical writing both exploit its ability to spiral tension upward before resolving.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

B

II

C

bIII

D

IV

E♭

bV

F

bVI

F♯

VI

G♯

VII

Same notes, different mode

A diminished uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

B half-whole diminishedD half-whole diminishedF half-whole diminishedG# half-whole diminished

diminished in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • This is the whole-half diminished scale: run it over a fully diminished 7th chord in A, whose four chord tones sit right inside it.
  • Every pattern repeats a minor 3rd (C) up; learn one octave of A fingering and transpose it in three-fret jumps.
  • Alternate a diminished 7th arpeggio with scale steps for the classic spiraling tension line.
  • Do not confuse it with the half-whole scale: whole-half fits the diminished chord itself, half-whole fits dominant 7b9 chords.

How to play A diminished on guitar

Open A is a root, with the perfect fourth on open D and the major second on open B, so a three-string pedal is free. Second fret of the G string holds a root, which lets low lines stay put. E-shape barre drops onto fret 5, A-shape onto fret 12. C diminished 3 semitones higher uses the identical shape, so the box travels in minor thirds. Fret 9 marks the next position.

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