E Diminished (half–whole)
An eight-note symmetric half–whole scale; its altered degrees create a tense dominant sound.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- E Diminished (half–whole)
- Family
- Symmetric scales
- Note count
- 8
- Step formula
- H – W – H – W – H – W – H – W
- Numeric formula
- 0-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2
Notes & degrees
1Eroot
b2Fminor 2nd
#2Gaug 2nd
3G#major 3rd
#4A#aug 4th
5Bperfect 5th
6C#major 6th
b7Dminor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- An eight-note symmetric half–whole scale; its altered degrees create a tense dominant sound.
- Application in music
- Symmetric: the half–whole pattern repeats every minor third. Sits over dominant sevenths with b9 and #9 (V7b9).
- Interval formula
- EHFWGHG#WA#HBWC#HD
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IEpoint of resttonic
IIIG#defines modal qualitythird
VBsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IEE
IIFF
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how E Diminished (half–whole) 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.