Notes in the A Diminished (H–W) scale
| Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | A |
| ♭2 | B♭ |
| ♭3 | C |
| 3 | C♯ |
| ♯4 | D♯ |
| 5 | E |
| 6 | F♯ |
| ♭7 | G |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: A B♭ C C♯ D♯ E F♯ G.
A Diminished (H–W) scale formula
The pattern of steps from one note to the next is H – W – H – W – H – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 ♭2 ♭3 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7.
How to practise the A Diminished (H–W) scale
The pattern repeats every minor third, so there are only three different diminished scales in all twelve keys. Practise it up and down in one octave, then play it over the matching diminished or dominant chord and listen for the tension it creates.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes in the A Diminished (H–W) scale?
The notes of the A Diminished (H–W) scale are A B♭ C C♯ D♯ E F♯ G.
What is the formula for the A Diminished (H–W) scale?
The pattern of whole and half steps is H – W – H – W – H – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 ♭2 ♭3 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7.
More A scales
A Major, A Natural Minor, A Harmonic Minor, A Melodic Minor, A Dorian, A Phrygian, A Lydian, A Mixolydian, A Locrian, A Major Pentatonic, A Minor Pentatonic, A Blues, A Lydian Dominant, A Altered, A Whole Tone, A Dorian ♭2, A Lydian Augmented, A Mixolydian ♭6, A Locrian ♯2, A Phrygian Dominant, A Hungarian Minor, A Double Harmonic, A Diminished (W–H), A Bebop Dominant, A Bebop Major
Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.