A Whole-Half Scale on Bass Guitar: Notes

How it is built

A1B2C♭3D4D♯♯4E♯♯5F♯6G♯7

Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7

Chords these notes build

A1A Diminished A Diminished 7th A Diminished Major 7th
B2B Major B Minor B 5th B 7th B Minor 7th B 7th Flat 5 B Minor 7th Flat 5th B 6th B Minor 6th B Diminished B Diminished 7th
C♭3C Diminished C Diminished 7th C Diminished Major 7th
D4D Major D Minor D 5th D 7th D Minor 7th D 7th Flat 5 D Minor 7th Flat 5th D 6th D Minor 6th D Diminished D Diminished 7th
D♯♯4E♭ Diminished E♭ Diminished 7th E♭ Diminished Major 7th
E♯♯5F Major F Minor F 5th F 7th F Minor 7th F 7th Flat 5 F Minor 7th Flat 5th F 6th F Minor 6th F Diminished F Diminished 7th
F♯6F♯ Diminished F♯ Diminished 7th F♯ Diminished Major 7th
G♯7A♭ Major A♭ Minor A♭ 5th A♭ 7th A♭ Minor 7th A♭ 7th Flat 5 A♭ Minor 7th Flat 5th A♭ 6th A♭ Minor 6th A♭ Diminished A♭ Diminished 7th

How do you play the A whole-half scale on bass?

A whole-half in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 11 notes across 4 strings, from E♯ on the E string at fret 1 up to B on the G string at fret 4. The root falls on the G string at fret 2.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (E)	1, 2, 4	E♯, F♯, G♯
3 (A)	2, 3	B, C
2 (D)	1, 3, 4	D♯, E♯, F♯
1 (G)	1, 2, 4	G♯, A, B

Box 2 · frets 5–8

A whole-half in box 2 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 11 notes across 4 strings, from A on the E string at fret 5 up to D♯ on the G string at fret 8. The root falls on the E string at fret 5 and the D string at fret 7.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (E)	5, 7, 8	A, B, C
3 (A)	5, 6, 8	D, D♯, E♯
2 (D)	6, 7	G♯, A
1 (G)	5, 7, 8	C, D, D♯

Box 3 · frets 7–10

A whole-half in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 11 notes across 4 strings, from B on the E string at fret 7 up to E♯ on the G string at fret 10. The root falls on the D string at fret 7.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (E)	7, 8, 10	B, C, D
3 (A)	8, 9	E♯, F♯
2 (D)	7, 9, 10	A, B, C
1 (G)	7, 8, 10	D, D♯, E♯

Box 4 · frets 10–13

A whole-half in box 4 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 11 notes across 4 strings, from D on the E string at fret 10 up to G♯ on the G string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 12.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (E)	10, 11, 13	D, D♯, E♯
3 (A)	11, 12	G♯, A
2 (D)	10, 12, 13	C, D, D♯
1 (G)	10, 11, 13	E♯, F♯, G♯

Why it sounds like that

A whole-half is an eight-note diminished scale built by alternating whole and half steps. It differs from A bebop melodic minor by raising the fifth to E♯ and adding D♯. The scale contains a tritone between A and D♯ and a leading tone G♯. Compare it with A bebop melodic minor.

When to use it

Use A whole-half over A diminished and A diminished 7th chords. It also fits B major, B minor, C diminished, and D major. The leading tone G♯ pulls strongly to A, making it effective in dominant contexts. For chord options, see A diminished and B major.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root under your first finger and spans frets 1–4, ideal for learning the alternating step pattern.

Common questions

What notes are in A whole-half?

A whole-half contains A, B, C, D, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯. The scale alternates whole and half steps from the root. It is an eight-note diminished scale.

Which chords does A whole-half fit?

A whole-half fits A diminished and A diminished 7th chords. It also works over B major, B minor, C diminished, and D major. The scale's leading tone G♯ resolves to A.

How is A whole-half different from A bebop melodic minor?

A whole-half raises the fifth to E♯ and adds D♯ compared to A bebop melodic minor. The bebop scale has a natural fifth E and no D♯. This gives the whole-half scale its diminished colour.