Jazz
The Diminished Scale, Cont’d
The diminished scale, when following the whole-step/half-step pattern, relates to diminished chords, but when following a half-step/whole-step pattern, it relates to dominant chords. This means that the C diminished (whole-step/half-step) contains the same notes as B diminished (half-step/whole-step), which is sometimes called the “dominant diminished” scale.
Here is a chart that shows the function of each scale tone over the dominant chords.
B7
D7
F7
A 7
C
9
% 7
5
3
D
#9
R
13
#11 5
E F
3 #115
9 #9 3
% 7 R 9
13 7 R
G%G#A B
13 7 R
#115 13
#9 3 #11
9 #9
Here are some practical fingerings for the diminished scale. This diminished scale fingering uses four notes per string.
1134
1134
1134
3
4
1 1 3 4
1
1
3
4
1
1
13 14 16 17
12 13 15 16
10 11 13 14
9 10 12 13
8 9 11 12
7 8 10 11
This diminished line is based on major triads a minor third apart.
B
Ab
F
D
3
B
3
3
3
12
9
Ab
3
3
8 11
8
10 7
10 7 10
7
9
6
9
69
8
8
5
This diminished line outlines D/E%, F/G%, and A%/A. Try this line over F7, D7, A% 7, or B7.
D/Eb
3
F/Gb
3
3
Ab/A
3
3
6
33
4
4
4
7
5
5
5
5
7
7
7
6
7
7
6
9
89
6
10
11
8
5
