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
1D#root
2E#major 2nd
b3F#minor 3rd
4G#perfect 4th
b5Adim 5th
b6Bminor 6th
6B#major 6th
7Dmajor 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
- D#WE#HF#WG#HAWBHB#WD
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
ID#nominal centretonic
IIIF#defines modal qualitythird
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIDD
ID#D#
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIF#F#
IVG#G#
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
ID#D#
IIE#E#
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.