Ab Diminished Scale (Half-Whole)
Notes in the Ab Diminished Scale (Half-Whole)
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| ♭2 | Altered 2nd | A | 440.000 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | B | 493.883 Hz |
| 3 | Major Mediant | C | 261.626 Hz |
| ♯4 | Tritone | D | 293.665 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | Eb | 311.127 Hz |
| 6 | Major Submediant | F | 349.228 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | Gb | 369.994 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Ab | A |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | A | B |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | B | C |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | C | D |
| 5 | Half Step (H) | 1 | D | Eb |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Eb | F |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | F | Gb |
| 8 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Gb | Ab |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ab | Ab diminished | diminished |
| ♭2 | A | A diminished | diminished |
| ♭3 | B | B diminished | diminished |
| 3 | C | C diminished | diminished |
| ♯4 | D | D diminished | diminished |
| 5 | Eb | Eb diminished | diminished |
| 6 | F | F diminished | diminished |
| ♭7 | Gb | Gb diminished | diminished |
Key Signature
4 ♭ — The Ab key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db.
Ab Diminished Scale (Half-Whole) in Practice
The Ab Diminished Scale (Half-Whole) uses the key signature of 4 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db). Ab major has four flats and a full, somewhat dark sound. It is a common key in Romantic piano music and is frequently encountered in orchestral and choral writing. On guitar, Ab positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.
The half-whole diminished scale alternates half and whole steps, creating an 8-note symmetrical scale ideal for dominant chord improvisation and tension-building in jazz.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| Eb | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| Gb | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Ab Diminished Scale (Half-Whole)
Ab is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce Ab concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in Ab sound a major sixth lower.