STRINGSCALES

E♭ diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cb, C, D, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

A string: Bbb, Cb, C, D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bbb at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

D string: D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cb, C, D at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

G string: Ab, Bbb, Cb, C, D, Eb, F, Gb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

B string: Cb, C, D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cb at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

High E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cb, C, D, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

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Eb 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:

E♭

I

F

II

G♭

bIII

A♭

IV

B𝄫

bV

C♭

bVI

C

VI

D

VII

Same notes, different mode

Eb 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.

F half-whole diminishedAb half-whole diminishedCb half-whole diminishedD 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 Eb, whose four chord tones sit right inside it.
  • Every pattern repeats a minor 3rd (Gb) up; learn one octave of Eb 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 E♭ diminished on guitar

One finger on the D string, first fret, gives a root, so lines begin without leaving the nut. Open D rings the major seventh and open B the minor sixth, which lets tension hang under fretted notes. Capo 1 makes the whole key D fingering. Symmetry repeats the shape as Gb diminished 3 frets higher, which means one fingering answers to four names. Shape one hands off at fret 15.

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