E flat diminished (whole-half) scale on piano
The E flat diminished (whole-half) scale on piano has 8 notes: E flat, F, G flat, A flat, B double flat, C flat, C, and D (E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭♭, C♭, C, D). It uses 3 black keys: E♭, G♭, A♭.
- E♭ E flat 1
- F 2
- G♭ G flat ♭3
- A♭ A flat 4
- B♭♭ B double flat ♭5
- C♭ C flat ♭6
- C 6
- D 7
The highlighted keys are the notes of the scale, with the name and the degree; the tonic (E♭) 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 E flat diminished (whole-half) 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
- E♭
- W
- F
- H
- G♭
- W
- A♭
- H
- B♭♭
- W
- C♭
- H
- C
- W
- D
- H
- E♭
Degrees: 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · ♭6 · 6 · 7. Steps: W – H – W – H – W – H – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the diminished (whole-half) scale
Alternates whole and half steps. Used over diminished chords.
Scales with the same notes
More E flat scales
- Major
- Natural minor (D♯)
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic (D♯)
- Blues (D♯)
- Major blues
- Dorian
- Phrygian (D♯)
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian (D♯)
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião)
- Phrygian dominant
- Whole-tone
- Diminished (whole-half)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole)
Diminished (whole-half) in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the E flat diminished (whole-half) scale?
The notes of the E flat diminished (whole-half) scale are E flat, F, G flat, A flat, B double flat, C flat, C, and D. It uses 3 black keys: E♭, G♭, A♭.
What is the formula of the E flat diminished (whole-half) scale?
In degrees: 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · ♭6 · 6 · 7. In steps between notes: W – H – W – H – W – H – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step).