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E♭ leading whole tone Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, A, B, C#, D, Eb at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11

A string: A, B, C#, D, Eb, F, G, A at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

D string: D, Eb, F, G, A, B, C#, D at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

G string: G, A, B, C#, D, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12

B string: B, C#, D, Eb, F, G, A, B at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

High E string: F, G, A, B, C#, D, Eb at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11

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Eb leading whole tone

The leading whole tone scale, the second mode of the neapolitan major scale, is a whole tone scale with a major 7th bolted on. Five whole steps float exactly as expected, then the leading tone suddenly offers a way home. That built-in escape hatch makes it more usable than the pure whole tone scale in tonal contexts.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

E♭

I+

E♭aug
F

II+

Faug
G

III

Gmaj
A

#IV

Amaj♭5
B

#v°

Bdim
C♯

#VI

E♭7no5/C#
D

vii

Dm

Same notes, different mode

Eb leading whole tone 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 lydian augmented dominantG lydian dominant b6A major locrianB half-diminished b4C# altered dominant double b3D neapolitan major

leading whole tone in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Float through the whole tone bottom (root to #V (B) in whole steps), then use the major 7th (D) as the escape hatch to the root.
  • Over an augmented chord resolving to a major chord, this scale scripts the resolution: dreamy first, decisive at the end.
  • Delay the VII: the longer the whole tone blur lasts, the stronger the leading tone lands.
  • It is the second mode of neapolitan major; the same notes a whole step below Eb give the neapolitan major scale.

How to play E♭ leading whole tone on guitar

Open A, D, G and B all fall inside Eb, an augmented fourth, major seventh, major third and augmented fifth above the tonic. Lowest root is fret 11 on the low E, but the nearest to the nut is fret 1 on the D string, so first position already has an anchor. Capo 1 converts the shapes to D, which lets you reuse boxes you already know. First box ends at fret 15.

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