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