STRINGSCALES

F diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, G, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, D, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

A string: Bb, Cb, Db, D, E, F, G, Ab at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

D string: D, E, F, G, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, D at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

G string: G, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, D, E, F, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

B string: Cb, Db, D, E, F, G, Ab, Bb, Cb at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

High E string: E, F, G, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, D, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

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F 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:

F

I

G

II

A♭

bIII

B♭

IV

C♭

bV

D♭

bVI

D

VI

E

VII

Same notes, different mode

F 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.

G half-whole diminishedBb half-whole diminishedDb half-whole diminishedE 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 F, whose four chord tones sit right inside it.
  • Every pattern repeats a minor 3rd (Ab) up; learn one octave of F 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 F diminished on guitar

Every open string but the A belongs here: the E pair a major seventh up, open D the major sixth, open G a major second up and open B the diminished fifth, so open-string pedals are everywhere. Capo 1 and the key falls under E fingering, which lets familiar open shapes do the work. Ab diminished 3 frets up runs the same shape, so the box recycles itself. Barre anchors: A-shape fret 8, E-shape fret 1. Fret 5 opens the second shape.

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