D Diminished Scale (Half-Whole)
Notes in the D Diminished Scale (Half-Whole)
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | D | 293.665 Hz |
| ♭2 | Altered 2nd | D# | 311.127 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 3 | Major Mediant | F# | 369.994 Hz |
| ♯4 | Tritone | G# | 415.305 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | A | 440.000 Hz |
| 6 | Major Submediant | B | 493.883 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | C | 261.626 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | D | D# |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D# | F |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | F | F# |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F# | G# |
| 5 | Half Step (H) | 1 | G# | A |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | A | B |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | B | C |
| 8 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | C | D |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | D diminished | diminished |
| ♭2 | D# | D# diminished | diminished |
| ♭3 | F | F diminished | diminished |
| 3 | F# | F# diminished | diminished |
| ♯4 | G# | G# diminished | diminished |
| 5 | A | A diminished | diminished |
| 6 | B | B diminished | diminished |
| ♭7 | C | C diminished | diminished |
Key Signature
2 ♯ — The D key signature uses F#, C#.
D Diminished Scale (Half-Whole) in Practice
The D Diminished Scale (Half-Whole) uses the key signature of 2 sharps (F#, C#). D major has two sharps (F# and C#) and is known for its bright, brilliant sound. It is the natural key for violin and is widely used in orchestral and folk music. On guitar, D positions offer open-string resonance for fingering positions 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| D# | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| F# | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| G# | 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 |
Related Scales
Guitar: D Diminished Scale (Half-Whole) Positions
The D key offers 2 sharps (F#, C#) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like D are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.