D Diminished scale
An eight-note symmetric whole–half scale; it repeats at the minor 3rd and outlines the diminished 7th chord.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- D Diminished scale
- Family
- Symmetric scales
- Note count
- 8
- Step formula
- W – H – W – H – W – H – W – H
- Numeric formula
- 0-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1
Notes & degrees
1Droot
2Emajor 2nd
b3Fminor 3rd
4Gperfect 4th
b5Abdim 5th
b6Bbminor 6th
6Bmajor 6th
7C#major 7th
Construction
- Overview
- An eight-note symmetric whole–half scale; it repeats at the minor 3rd and outlines the diminished 7th chord.
- Application in music
- Symmetric: the whole–half pattern repeats every minor third. Sits over diminished seventh chords (dim7).
- Interval formula
- DWEHFWGHAbWBbHBWC#
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IDnominal centretonic
IIIFdefines modal qualitythird
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIC#C#
IDD
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIFF
IVGG
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IDD
IIEE
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how D Diminished scale looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.