Scale
C♯ Diminished Half-Whole Scale
Interactive keyboard
Highlighted notes form this scale.
Notes
C♯ · D · D𝄪 · E♯ · F𝄪 · G♯ · A♯ · B
Root: C♯
Intervals
1 · ♭2 · ♯2 · 3 · ♯4 · 5 · 6 · ♭7
How it is built
This scale starts on C♯ and applies the intervals 1, ♭2, ♯2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, ♭7. The result contains 8 distinct pitch classes per octave.
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Guide and musical context
About C♯ Diminished Half-Whole Scale
C♯ Diminished Half-Whole Scale uses the notes C♯, D, D𝄪, E♯, F𝄪, G♯, A♯, B. Its character is symmetric and highly tense, alternating half step and whole step.
Character and sound
Symmetric and highly tense, alternating half step and whole step.
Musical context and history
Half–whole diminished is a symmetric octatonic scale. Its repeating structure makes it especially useful over dominant chords with ♭9, ♯9, ♭5 or ♯5.
How and where it is used
It is a classic jazz resource over altered dominants and also appears in contemporary music and film scoring.
In Theory view you can hear the pitch collection without depending on a specific fingering. Then switch to Piano, Guitar, Ukulele or Mandolin to see how the same notes are physically distributed on each instrument.
Harmonic and musical relationships
A practical way to understand this scale is to compare it with the major and minor scales starting on C♯. The altered notes are exactly what create its characteristic color.
The formula on this page is 1 · ♭2 · ♯2 · 3 · ♯4 · 5 · 6 · ♭7 and, from C♯, produces the notes C♯ · D · D𝄪 · E♯ · F𝄪 · G♯ · A♯ · B.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C♯ Diminished Half-Whole Scale?
The notes are C♯, D, D𝄪, E♯, F𝄪, G♯, A♯, B.
What is its interval formula?
The formula is 1 · ♭2 · ♯2 · 3 · ♯4 · 5 · 6 · ♭7.
How does it sound and what is it used for?
Symmetric and highly tense, alternating half step and whole step. It is a classic jazz resource over altered dominants and also appears in contemporary music and film scoring.
Can I view it on a specific instrument?
Yes. Use the selector near the top to switch between Piano, Guitar, Ukulele and Mandolin without changing the musical combination you are studying.