Gb 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
- Gb 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
1Gbroot
b2Gminor 2nd
#2Aaug 2nd
3Bbmajor 3rd
#4Caug 4th
5Dbperfect 5th
6Ebmajor 6th
b7Fbminor 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
- GbHGWAHBbWCHDbWEbHFb
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IGbpoint of resttonic
IIIBbdefines modal qualitythird
VDbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IGbGb
IIGG
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 (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.