Eb 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
- Eb 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
1Ebroot
b2Fbminor 2nd
#2F#aug 2nd
3Gmajor 3rd
#4Aaug 4th
5Bbperfect 5th
6Cmajor 6th
b7Dbminor 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
- EbHFbWF#HGWAHBbWCHDb
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IEbpoint of resttonic
IIIGdefines modal qualitythird
VBbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IEbEb
IIFbFb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how Eb 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.