E dominant diminished (half-whole) scale on bass
The E dominant diminished (half-whole) scale has 8 notes: E F G G♯ A♯ B C♯ D (E, F, G, G sharp, A sharp, B, C sharp, and D).
- E 1
- F ♭2
- G ♭3
- G♯ G sharp 3
- A♯ A sharp ♯4
- B 5
- C♯ C sharp 6
- D ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 15. The root (E) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Position 1 (frets 0 to 4), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: open (E), 1 (F), 3 (G), 4 (G♯)
- string 3: 1 (A♯), 2 (B), 4 (C♯)
- string 2: open (D), 2 (E), 3 (F)
- string 1: open (G), 1 (G♯), 3 (A♯)
Position 2 (frets 0 to 4), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 1 (F), 3 (G), 4 (G♯)
- string 3: 1 (A♯), 2 (B), 4 (C♯)
- string 2: open (D), 2 (E), 3 (F)
- string 1: open (G), 1 (G♯), 3 (A♯)
Position 3 (frets 2 to 6), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 3 (G), 4 (G♯), 6 (A♯)
- string 3: 2 (B), 4 (C♯), 5 (D)
- string 2: 2 (E), 3 (F), 5 (G), 6 (G♯)
- string 1: 3 (A♯), 4 (B), 6 (C♯)
Position 4 (frets 3 to 7), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 4 (G♯), 6 (A♯), 7 (B)
- string 3: 4 (C♯), 5 (D), 7 (E)
- string 2: 3 (F), 5 (G), 6 (G♯)
- string 1: 3 (A♯), 4 (B), 6 (C♯)
Position 5 (frets 5 to 9), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 6 (A♯), 7 (B), 9 (C♯)
- string 3: 5 (D), 7 (E), 8 (F)
- string 2: 5 (G), 6 (G♯), 8 (A♯), 9 (B)
- string 1: 6 (C♯), 7 (D), 9 (E)
Position 6 (frets 6 to 10), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 7 (B), 9 (C♯), 10 (D)
- string 3: 7 (E), 8 (F), 10 (G)
- string 2: 6 (G♯), 8 (A♯), 9 (B)
- string 1: 6 (C♯), 7 (D), 9 (E)
Position 7 (frets 8 to 12), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 9 (C♯), 10 (D), 12 (E)
- string 3: 8 (F), 10 (G), 11 (G♯)
- string 2: 8 (A♯), 9 (B), 11 (C♯), 12 (D)
- string 1: 9 (E), 10 (F), 12 (G)
Position 8 (frets 9 to 13), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 10 (D), 12 (E), 13 (F)
- string 3: 10 (G), 11 (G♯), 13 (A♯)
- string 2: 9 (B), 11 (C♯), 12 (D)
- string 1: 9 (E), 10 (F), 12 (G)
Fretboard positions
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (E).
Use Degrees to see the role of each note (1 is the root) and Listen to hear the selected position going up and down.
Formula
- E
- H
- F
- W
- G
- H
- G♯
- W
- A♯
- H
- B
- W
- C♯
- H
- D
- W
- E
Degrees: 1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 3 · ♯4 · 5 · 6 · ♭7. Steps: H – W – H – W – H – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the dominant diminished (half-whole) scale
Alternates half and whole steps. Used over dominant chords with an altered 9th, in jazz.
Scales with the same notes
More E scales
- Major
- Natural minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Blues
- Major blues
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião)
- Phrygian dominant
- Whole-tone
- Diminished (whole-half)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole)
Dominant diminished (half-whole) in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the E dominant diminished (half-whole) scale?
The notes of the E dominant diminished (half-whole) scale are E, F, G, G sharp, A sharp, B, C sharp, and D. The root, degree 1, is E.
What is the formula of the E dominant diminished (half-whole) scale?
In degrees: 1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 3 · ♯4 · 5 · 6 · ♭7. In steps between the notes: H – W – H – W – H – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do you play the E dominant diminished (half-whole) scale on bass?
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (E). There are 8 positions on bass, each with the full fingering.