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F♯ blues diminished scale on guitar

F♯ blues diminished runs F♯, G, A, A♯, C, C♯, D♯, E. Box 1 starts on string 6, fret 2 and covers frets 0–3.

EF♯GAA♯CD♯EGAA♯CC♯EF♯GEADGBE123
Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it is built

F♯1G♭2A♭3A♯3C♭5C♯5D♯6E♭7

Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7

Chords these notes build

How do you play the F♯ blues diminished scale on guitar?

F♯ blues diminished in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 16 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the low E string at fret 2 and the high e string at fret 2.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)0, 2, 3E, F♯, G
5 (A)0, 1, 3A, A♯, C
4 (D)1, 2D♯, E
3 (G)0, 2, 3G, A, A♯
2 (B)1, 2C, C♯
1 (e)0, 2, 3E, F♯, G

Box 2 · frets 2–5

F♯ blues diminished in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 17 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the low E string at fret 2, the D string at fret 4 and the high e string at fret 2.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)2, 3, 5F♯, G, A
5 (A)3, 4C, C♯
4 (D)2, 4, 5E, F♯, G
3 (G)2, 3, 5A, A♯, C
2 (B)2, 4, 5C♯, D♯, E
1 (e)2, 3, 5F♯, G, A

Box 3 · frets 5–8

F♯ blues diminished in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 17 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the B string at fret 7.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)5, 6, 8A, A♯, C
5 (A)6, 7D♯, E
4 (D)5, 7, 8G, A, A♯
3 (G)5, 6, 8C, C♯, D♯
2 (B)5, 7, 8E, F♯, G
1 (e)5, 6, 8A, A♯, C

Box 4 · frets 8–11

F♯ blues diminished in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 17 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to D♯ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the A string at fret 9 and the G string at fret 11.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)8, 9, 11C, C♯, D♯
5 (A)9, 10F♯, G
4 (D)8, 10, 11A♯, C, C♯
3 (G)8, 9, 11D♯, E, F♯
2 (B)8, 10, 11G, A, A♯
1 (e)8, 9, 11C, C♯, D♯

Box 5 · frets 11–14

F♯ blues diminished in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 17 notes across 6 strings, from D♯ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the low E string at fret 14, the G string at fret 11 and the high e string at fret 14.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)11, 12, 14D♯, E, F♯
5 (A)12, 13A, A♯
4 (D)11, 13, 14C♯, D♯, E
3 (G)11, 12, 14F♯, G, A
2 (B)11, 13, 14A♯, C, C♯
1 (e)11, 12, 14D♯, E, F♯

Why it sounds like that

F♯ blues diminished adds a ♭2 to F♯ hungarian major, keeping the same ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7. The scale alternates half and whole steps, creating a tritone between F♯ and C. Compare it with F♯ hungarian major to hear the added minor 2nd.

When to use it

F♯ blues diminished fits F♯ major and F♯ minor chords, adding tension with the ♭2 and ♭5. Use the supplied linked chords to hear its tension without adding unsupported harmony.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first: the root sits on string 6, fret 2, covering frets 0–3 and setting up the next position.

Common questions

What notes are in F♯ blues diminished?

F♯ blues diminished contains F♯, G, A, A♯, C, C♯, D♯, and E. The scale includes both minor and major thirds, a diminished fifth, and a minor seventh. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

Which chords work with F♯ blues diminished?

F♯ blues diminished works over F♯ major and F♯ minor chords. The scale's ♭2 and ♭5 create tension that resolves to chord tones.

Is F♯ blues diminished the same as F♯ diminished?

F♯ blues diminished is an eight-note scale, not a diminished seventh chord. It combines a blues scale with a half-whole diminished pattern.