STRINGSCALES

B diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

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

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

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

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B 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:

B

I

C♯

II

D

bIII

E

IV

F

bV

G

bVI

G♯

VI

A♯

VII

Same notes, different mode

B 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.

C# half-whole diminishedE half-whole diminishedG half-whole diminishedA# 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 B, whose four chord tones sit right inside it.
  • Every pattern repeats a minor 3rd (D) up; learn one octave of B 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 B diminished on guitar

Open B rings as root, and four more open strings are scale tones, the E pair on the perfect fourth, open D the minor third and the minor sixth on open G, so open position is almost entirely usable. A string root at fret 2 keeps low work compact, which means a barre in the same place covers it. Capo 2 and A fingering applies. D diminished 3 frets along carries the identical shape, which means the box repeats in minor thirds. At fret 11 the next shape takes over.

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