E flat dominant diminished (half-whole) scale on piano
The E flat dominant diminished (half-whole) scale on piano has 8 notes: E flat, F flat, G flat, G, A, B flat, C, and D flat (E♭, F♭, G♭, G, A, B♭, C, D♭). It uses 4 black keys: E♭, G♭, B♭, D♭.
- E♭ E flat 1
- F♭ F flat ♭2
- G♭ G flat ♭3
- G 3
- A ♯4
- B♭ B flat 5
- C 6
- D♭ D flat ♭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 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
- E♭
- H
- F♭
- W
- G♭
- H
- G
- W
- A
- H
- B♭
- W
- C
- H
- D♭
- W
- E♭
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 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)
Dominant diminished (half-whole) in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the E flat dominant diminished (half-whole) scale?
The notes of the E flat dominant diminished (half-whole) scale are E flat, F flat, G flat, G, A, B flat, C, and D flat. It uses 4 black keys: E♭, G♭, B♭, D♭.
What is the formula of the E 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).