Go to the app!
← All scales, from every note

A diminished (half-whole) scale

The A diminished (half-whole) scale is made of the notes A, B♭, C, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G. It has 8 notes; compared with the major scale its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7.

Symmetric · 8 notes

Note names
  1. 1A
  2. ♭2B♭
  3. ♭3C
  4. 3C♯
  5. ♯4D♯
  6. 5E
  7. 6F♯
  8. ♭7G

PatternH – W – H – W – H – W – H – W(W = whole step, H = half step)

Built by repeating the same pattern of intervals over and over. Degrees are shown relative to the major scale: ♭3 is the third lowered by a half step, ♯4 the fourth raised.

Open in the scale finder

Mode and chords

Eight notes alternating half and whole steps, starting with a half step. It contains the major 3rd and minor 7th, which is why jazz uses it over the dominant chord with ♭9 and ♯9.

Used overA7Am7Am7♭5Adim7

Put it into practice

The scale played in thirds over one octave: one of the exercises MEG generates from this scale.

This scale is not part of the demo: in the MEG app you will find it in every key, with 24 patterns.

Sign up for freeTry the demo

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes of the A diminished (half-whole) scale?
The notes are A, B♭, C, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G.
What is the pattern of the A diminished (half-whole) scale?
The sequence of steps 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.
Which chords is the A diminished (half-whole) scale used over?
It is used over A7, Am7, Am7♭5, Adim7: the chords on the tonic made of the notes of the scale.

Texts and tools by , professional musician and developer. Last updated: October 9, 2026.