E Diminished Scale (Whole-half) on Guitar

The E Diminished Scale (Whole-half) is a 8-note scale (over dim7 chords) built from the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♯5 6 7. Its notes are E F♯ G A B♭ B♯ C♯ D♯. Below you'll find the scale on the whole fretboard and related scales — open it in the interactive fretboard for 3NPS, CAGED and pentatonic box patterns with playback.

Notes and intervals

DegreeNoteInterval
1Eroot
2F♯Major 2nd
♭3GMinor 3rd
4APerfect 4th
♭5B♭Diminished 5th (tritone)
♯5B♯Augmented 5th
6C♯Major 6th
7D♯Major 7th

Steps: W – H – W – H – W – H – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step)

E Diminished Scale (Whole-half) on the fretboard (15 frets)

E Diminished Scale (Whole-half) – guitar fretboardEADGBEE1F♯2G♭3A4B♭♭5B♯♯5C♯6D♯7E1F♯2G♭3A4B♭♭5B♯♯5C♯6D♯7E1F♯2G♭3A4B♭♭5B♯♯5D♯7E1F♯2G♭3A4B♭♭5B♯♯5C♯6D♯7E1G♭3A4B♭♭5B♯♯5C♯6D♯7E1F♯2G♭3A4B♭♭5B♯♯5C♯6D♯7E1F♯2G♭3A4B♭♭5B♯♯5C♯6E1F♯2G♭3A4B♭♭5B♯♯5C♯6D♯7E1F♯2G♭3123456789101112131415

Standard tuning E A D G B E. Pink = root, purple = characteristic notes. 3NPS, CAGED and box patterns plus other tunings are in the interactive fretboard.

Other scales from E

Diminished (whole-half) in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the E Diminished Scale (Whole-half)?
The E Diminished Scale (Whole-half) has 8 notes: E, F♯, G, A, B♭, B♯, C♯, D♯. Its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♯5 6 7.
What intervals make up the E Diminished Scale (Whole-half)?
Step pattern: W – H – W – H – W – H – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Intervals from the root: 2 (Major 2nd), ♭3 (Minor 3rd), 4 (Perfect 4th), ♭5 (Diminished 5th (tritone)), ♯5 (Augmented 5th), 6 (Major 6th), 7 (Major 7th).