A flat dominant diminished (half-whole) scale on piano
The A flat dominant diminished (half-whole) scale on piano has 8 notes: A flat, B double flat, C flat, C, D, E flat, F, and G flat (A♭, B♭♭, C♭, C, D, E♭, F, G♭). It uses 3 black keys: A♭, E♭, G♭.
- A♭ A flat 1
- B♭♭ B double flat ♭2
- C♭ C flat ♭3
- C 3
- D ♯4
- E♭ E flat 5
- F 6
- G♭ G flat ♭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 flat 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 flat scales
- Major
- Natural minor (G♯)
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic (G♯)
- Blues (G♯)
- Major blues
- Dorian
- Phrygian (G♯)
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian (G♯)
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião)
- Phrygian dominant (G♯)
- Whole-tone
- Diminished (whole-half) (G♯)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole)
Dominant diminished (half-whole) in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the A flat dominant diminished (half-whole) scale?
The notes of the A flat dominant diminished (half-whole) scale are A flat, B double flat, C flat, C, D, E flat, F, and G flat. It uses 3 black keys: A♭, E♭, G♭.
What is the formula of the A flat 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).