A whole-tone scale on cavaquinho
The A whole-tone scale has 6 notes: A B C♯ D♯ E♯ G (A, B, C sharp, D sharp, E sharp, and G).
- A 1
- B 2
- C♯ C sharp 3
- D♯ D sharp ♯4
- E♯ E sharp ♯5
- G ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 17. The root (A) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Position 6 (frets 5 to 9), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 5 (G), 7 (A), 9 (B)
- string 3: 6 (C♯), 8 (D♯)
- string 2: 6 (E♯), 8 (G)
- string 1: 7 (A), 9 (B)
Position 1 (frets 7 to 11), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 7 (A), 9 (B), 11 (C♯)
- string 3: 8 (D♯), 10 (E♯)
- string 2: 8 (G), 10 (A)
- string 1: 9 (B), 11 (C♯)
Position 2 (frets 9 to 13), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 9 (B), 11 (C♯), 13 (D♯)
- string 3: 10 (E♯), 12 (G)
- string 2: 10 (A), 12 (B)
- string 1: 11 (C♯), 13 (D♯)
Position 3 (frets 11 to 15), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 11 (C♯), 13 (D♯), 15 (E♯)
- string 3: 12 (G), 14 (A)
- string 2: 12 (B), 14 (C♯)
- string 1: 13 (D♯), 15 (E♯)
Position 4 (frets 13 to 17), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 13 (D♯), 15 (E♯), 17 (G)
- string 3: 14 (A), 16 (B)
- string 2: 14 (C♯), 16 (D♯)
- string 1: 15 (E♯), 17 (G)
Position 5 (frets 14 to 17), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 15 (E♯), 17 (G)
- string 3: 14 (A), 16 (B)
- string 2: 14 (C♯), 16 (D♯)
- string 1: 15 (E♯), 17 (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 (A).
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
- A
- W
- B
- W
- C♯
- W
- D♯
- W
- E♯
- W
- G
- W
- A
Degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · ♯4 · ♯5 · ♭7. Steps: W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the whole-tone scale
Six notes a whole step apart. Mysterious and dreamlike; fits augmented chords.
Scales with the same notes
More A 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)
Whole-tone in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the A whole-tone scale?
The notes of the A whole-tone scale are A, B, C sharp, D sharp, E sharp, and G. The root, degree 1, is A.
What is the formula of the A whole-tone scale?
In degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · ♯4 · ♯5 · ♭7. In steps between the notes: W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do you play the A whole-tone scale on cavaquinho?
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 (A). There are 6 positions on cavaquinho, each with the full fingering.