F# Whole-Half Scale on Bass Guitar: Notes

How it is built

F♯1G♯2A♭3B4B♯♯4C♯♯♯5D♯6E♯7

Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7

Chords these notes build

F♯1F♯ Diminished F♯ Diminished 7th F♯ Diminished Major 7th
G♯2A♭ 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
A♭3A Diminished A Diminished 7th A Diminished Major 7th
B4B 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
B♯♯4C Diminished C Diminished 7th C Diminished Major 7th
C♯♯♯5D 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♯6E♭ Diminished E♭ Diminished 7th E♭ Diminished Major 7th
E♯7F 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

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

F♯ whole-half in box 1 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 11 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the E string at fret 2 up to B♯ on the G string at fret 5. The root falls on the E string at fret 2 and the D string at fret 4.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 2 · frets 4–7

F♯ 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 C♯♯ on the G string at fret 7. The root falls on the D string at fret 4.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 3 · frets 7–10

F♯ 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 A string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 4 · frets 10–13

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

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Why it sounds like that

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

When to use it

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

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root under your first finger and spans frets 2–5, ideal for learning the alternating step pattern.

Common questions

What notes are in F♯ whole-half?

F♯ whole-half contains F♯, G♯, A, B, B♯, C♯♯, D♯, E♯. The scale alternates whole and half steps from the root. It is an eight-note diminished scale. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

Which chords does F♯ whole-half fit?

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

How is F♯ whole-half different from F♯ bebop melodic minor?

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