C Whole-Half Scale on Bass Guitar: Notes

How it is built

C1D2E♭♭3F4F♯♯4G♯♯5A6B7

Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7

Chords these notes build

C1C Diminished C Diminished 7th C Diminished Major 7th
D2D 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
E♭♭3E♭ Diminished E♭ Diminished 7th E♭ Diminished Major 7th
F4F 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♯♯4F♯ Diminished F♯ Diminished 7th F♯ Diminished Major 7th
G♯♯5A♭ 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
A6A Diminished A Diminished 7th A Diminished Major 7th
B7B 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

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

C whole-half in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 11 notes across 4 strings, from F on the E string at fret 1 up to B on the G string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 3.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 2 · frets 4–7

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

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 3 · frets 8–11

C whole-half in box 3 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 11 notes across 4 strings, from C on the E string at fret 8 up to F♯ on the G string at fret 11. The root falls on the E string at fret 8 and the D string at fret 10.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (E)	8, 10, 11	C, D, E♭
3 (A)	8, 9, 11	F, F♯, G♯
2 (D)	9, 10	B, C
1 (G)	8, 10, 11	E♭, F, F♯

Box 4 · frets 10–13

C 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 D string at fret 10.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Why it sounds like that

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

When to use it

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

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

Which chords does C whole-half fit?

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

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

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