STRINGSCALES

D♭ diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: Fb, Gb, Abb, Bbb, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

A string: Bbb, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Abb, Bbb at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

D string: Eb, Fb, Gb, Abb, Bbb, Bb, C, Db at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

G string: Abb, Bbb, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Abb at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

B string: C, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Abb, Bbb, Bb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

High E string: Fb, Gb, Abb, Bbb, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

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Db 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:

D♭

I

E♭

II

F♭

bIII

G♭

IV

A𝄫

bV

B𝄫

bVI

B♭

VI

C

VII

Same notes, different mode

Db 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.

Eb half-whole diminishedGb half-whole diminishedA half-whole diminishedC 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 Db, whose four chord tones sit right inside it.
  • Every pattern repeats a minor 3rd (E) up; learn one octave of Db 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 D♭ diminished on guitar

Both E strings ring the minor third open and open G the diminished fifth, which lets a drone sit under the whole shape. Same fingering names E diminished 3 semitones up and G diminished 6 semitones up, so one box travels the neck. Open A adds the minor sixth, so all four open strings here are usable. E-shape barre falls at fret 9, A-shape at fret 4. From fret 13 the next box starts.

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