Gb 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
- Gb 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
1Gbroot
2Abmajor 2nd
b3Aminor 3rd
4Cbperfect 4th
b5Cdim 5th
b6Dminor 6th
6Ebmajor 6th
7Fmajor 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
- GbWAbHAWCbHCWDHEbWF
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IGbnominal centretonic
IIIAdefines modal qualitythird
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIFF
IGbGb
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIAA
IVCbCb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IGbGb
IIAbAb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how Gb 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.