C dominant diminished (half-whole) scale on piano
The C dominant diminished (half-whole) scale on piano has 8 notes: C, D flat, E flat, E, F sharp, G, A, and B flat (C, D♭, E♭, E, F♯, G, A, B♭). It uses 4 black keys: D♭, E♭, F♯, B♭.
- C 1
- D♭ D flat ♭2
- E♭ E flat ♭3
- E 3
- F♯ F sharp ♯4
- G 5
- A 6
- B♭ B flat ♭7
The highlighted keys are the notes of the scale, with the name and the degree; the tonic (C) 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 C 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
- C
- H
- D♭
- W
- E♭
- H
- E
- W
- F♯
- H
- G
- W
- A
- H
- B♭
- W
- C
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 C 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 C dominant diminished (half-whole) scale?
The notes of the C dominant diminished (half-whole) scale are C, D flat, E flat, E, F sharp, G, A, and B flat. It uses 4 black keys: D♭, E♭, F♯, B♭.
What is the formula of the C 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).