STRINGSCALES

B half-whole diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pick a root note

Pick a scale

B half-whole diminished

The half-whole diminished scale alternates half and whole steps through eight notes, and is jazz's standard sound over a 13b9 dominant chord: it contains the b9, #9, #11, natural 13 and both chord 3rd and 7th. Because it repeats every minor 3rd, one fingering transposes in minor-3rd jumps, and the same notes serve four different dominant chords.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B

I

C

bII

D

bIII

D♯

III

E♯

#IV

F♯

V

G♯

VI

A

bVII

Same notes, different mode

B half-whole 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 diminishedD# diminishedF# diminishedA diminished

half whole diminished in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Play B half-whole diminished over a B13b9 dominant chord; it contains the b9 (C), #9 (D), natural 13 (G#) and both guide tones.
  • Its minor-3rd symmetry means one lick serves four dominant chords: transpose in three-fret jumps.
  • Build lines from the two diminished 7th arpeggios interlocked inside the scale, then resolve to the I chord a 4th up from B.
  • Try the classic pattern: half step up, minor 3rd down, repeated through the scale for an instant jazz-fusion sequence.

How to play B half-whole diminished on guitar

Open B is a root, so one string pedals without any left hand. Root map: low E fret 7, A fret 2, D fret 9, G fret 4. Open A and D belong here too, which means a three-string drone is possible. Same box covers D, F and Ab, each three semitones from the last, which means four keys collapse into one fingering. Root box ends at fret 11.

homeall scalesaboutfaqpricingmicrotonalterms & conditionsprivacy policycookie policy© 2026 StringScales. All rights reserved.