Half diminished scale

Half diminished scale
ModesI, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII
Component pitches
C, D, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭
Qualities
Number of pitch classes7
Forte number7-34
Complement5-34

The half diminished scale is a seven-note musical scale. It is more commonly known as the Locrian ♯2 scale[1] or the Aeolian ♭5 scale, names that avoid confusion with the diminished scale and the half-diminished seventh chord (minor seventh, diminished fifth). It is the sixth mode of the ascending melodic minor scale.

{ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \relative c' { \clef treble \time 7/4 c4^\markup { Half diminished scale on C } d es f ges aes bes c2 } }

In the key of B♭, the half-diminished scale built on C is associated with Cm7♭5, which functions as a iiø7 chord in minor (see chord-scale system).

References

  1. ^ Arnold, Bruce (January 2001). Music Theory Workbook for Guitar: Scale construction and application. muse eek publishing. p. 17. ISBN 1-890944-53-X. Retrieved Jul 10, 2009.
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