A dominant diminished (half-whole) scale on piano
The A dominant diminished (half-whole) scale on piano has 8 notes: A, B flat, C, C sharp, D sharp, E, F sharp, and G (A, B♭, C, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G). It uses 4 black keys: B♭, C♯, D♯, F♯.
- A 1
- B♭ B flat ♭2
- C ♭3
- C♯ C sharp 3
- D♯ D sharp ♯4
- E 5
- F♯ F sharp 6
- G ♭7
The highlighted keys are the notes of the scale, with the name and the degree; the tonic (A) has the strongest color. Tap a key to hear the note; "Play" goes up and down. The small dot marks middle C (C4).
Fingering for the A dominant diminished (half-whole) scale
This scale has no single fingering in piano method books. A rule that works: never put the thumb on a black key, and pass the thumb right after a black key. Fingers: 1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = little finger.
Formula
- A
- H
- B♭
- W
- C
- H
- C♯
- W
- D♯
- H
- E
- W
- F♯
- H
- G
- W
- A
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 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)
Dominant diminished (half-whole) in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the A dominant diminished (half-whole) scale?
The notes of the A dominant diminished (half-whole) scale are A, B flat, C, C sharp, D sharp, E, F sharp, and G. It uses 4 black keys: B♭, C♯, D♯, F♯.
What is the formula of the A dominant diminished (half-whole) scale?
In degrees: 1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 3 · ♯4 · 5 · 6 · ♭7. In steps between notes: H – W – H – W – H – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step).