Ab Diminished Scale (Whole-Half)
Notes in the Ab Diminished Scale (Whole-Half)
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| 2 | Supertonic | Bb | 466.164 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | B | 493.883 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | Db | 277.183 Hz |
| ♭5 | Tritone | D | 293.665 Hz |
| ♭6 | Minor Submediant | E | 329.628 Hz |
| 6 | Major Submediant | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | G | 391.995 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Ab | Bb |
| 2 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Bb | B |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B | Db |
| 4 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Db | D |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D | E |
| 6 | Half Step (H) | 1 | E | F |
| 7 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F | G |
| 8 | Half Step (H) | 1 | G | Ab |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ab | Ab diminished | diminished |
| 2 | Bb | Bb diminished | diminished |
| ♭3 | B | B diminished | diminished |
| 4 | Db | Db diminished | diminished |
| ♭5 | D | D diminished | diminished |
| ♭6 | E | E diminished | diminished |
| 6 | F | F diminished | diminished |
| 7 | G | G diminished | diminished |
Key Signature
4 ♭ — The Ab key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db.
Ab Diminished Scale (Whole-Half) in Practice
The Ab Diminished Scale (Whole-Half) 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 whole-half diminished scale alternates whole and half steps, creating an 8-note symmetrical scale. It is used over diminished chords and in jazz improvisation.
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 |
| Bb | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| Db | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Ab Diminished Scale (Whole-Half)
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.