E dominant diminished (half-whole) scale on cavaquinho
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 17. The root (E) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Position 1 (frets 1 to 6), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 2 (E), 3 (F), 5 (G)
- string 3: 1 (G♯), 3 (A♯), 4 (B)
- string 2: 2 (C♯), 3 (D), 5 (E)
- string 1: 3 (F), 5 (G), 6 (G♯)
Position 2 (frets 3 to 6), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 3 (F), 5 (G), 6 (G♯)
- string 3: 3 (A♯), 4 (B), 6 (C♯)
- string 2: 3 (D), 5 (E), 6 (F)
- string 1: 5 (G), 6 (G♯)
Position 3 (frets 4 to 9), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 5 (G), 6 (G♯), 8 (A♯)
- string 3: 4 (B), 6 (C♯), 7 (D)
- string 2: 5 (E), 6 (F), 8 (G)
- string 1: 6 (G♯), 8 (A♯), 9 (B)
Position 4 (frets 6 to 9), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 6 (G♯), 8 (A♯), 9 (B)
- string 3: 6 (C♯), 7 (D), 9 (E)
- string 2: 6 (F), 8 (G), 9 (G♯)
- string 1: 8 (A♯), 9 (B)
Position 5 (frets 7 to 12), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 8 (A♯), 9 (B), 11 (C♯)
- string 3: 7 (D), 9 (E), 10 (F)
- string 2: 8 (G), 9 (G♯), 11 (A♯)
- string 1: 9 (B), 11 (C♯), 12 (D)
Position 6 (frets 9 to 12), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 9 (B), 11 (C♯), 12 (D)
- string 3: 9 (E), 10 (F), 12 (G)
- string 2: 9 (G♯), 11 (A♯), 12 (B)
- string 1: 11 (C♯), 12 (D)
Position 7 (frets 10 to 15), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 11 (C♯), 12 (D), 14 (E)
- string 3: 10 (F), 12 (G), 13 (G♯)
- string 2: 11 (A♯), 12 (B), 14 (C♯)
- string 1: 12 (D), 14 (E), 15 (F)
Position 8 (frets 12 to 15), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 12 (D), 14 (E), 15 (F)
- string 3: 12 (G), 13 (G♯), 15 (A♯)
- string 2: 12 (B), 14 (C♯), 15 (D)
- string 1: 14 (E), 15 (F)
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 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 (E). There are 8 positions on cavaquinho, each with the full fingering.