Explore scales · Guitar
F♯ whole-half scale on guitar
F♯ whole-half scale contains F♯, G♯, A, B, B♯, C♯♯, D♯, and E♯. Box 1 places the root on string 6, fret 2 for a low, dark position.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7
How do you play the F♯ whole-half scale on guitar?
F♯ whole-half in box 1 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 16 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
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4, 5 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 5 (A) | 2, 3, 5 | B, B♯, C♯♯ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 4 | E♯, F♯ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 4, 5 | A, B, B♯ |
| 2 (B) | 3, 4 | C♯♯, D♯ |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4, 5 | F♯, G♯, A |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
F♯ whole-half in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 17 notes across 6 strings, from G♯ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the D string at fret 4 and the B string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 5, 7 | G♯, A, B |
| 5 (A) | 5, 6 | C♯♯, D♯ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6, 7 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 3 (G) | 4, 5, 7 | B, B♯, C♯♯ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6, 7 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 7 | G♯, A, B |
Box 3 · frets 7–10
F♯ whole-half in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 17 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to C♯♯ on the high e string at fret 10. The root falls on the A string at fret 9 and the B string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 8, 10 | B, B♯, C♯♯ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 9 | E♯, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 7, 9, 10 | A, B, B♯ |
| 3 (G) | 7, 8, 10 | C♯♯, D♯, E♯ |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9, 10 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 1 (e) | 7, 8, 10 | B, B♯, C♯♯ |
Box 4 · frets 10–13
F♯ whole-half in box 4 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 17 notes across 6 strings, from C♯♯ on the low E string at fret 10 up to E♯ on the high e 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10, 11, 13 | C♯♯, D♯, E♯ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 12 | G♯, A |
| 4 (D) | 10, 12, 13 | B♯, C♯♯, D♯ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 11, 13 | E♯, F♯, G♯ |
| 2 (B) | 10, 12, 13 | A, B, B♯ |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11, 13 | C♯♯, D♯, E♯ |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ whole-half alternates whole and half steps from F♯: W-H-W-H-W-H-W-H. It shares six notes with F♯ bebop melodic minor, differing only in the fifth degree. The scale includes a tritone and a leading tone, giving it strong tension.
When to use it
F♯ whole-half fits diminished chords like F♯ diminished and F♯ diminished 7th. It also works over G♯ major or G♯ minor progressions. Use it for dark, tense lines in jazz or metal.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root sits on string 6, fret 2, and the range 1–5 keeps the stretch manageable. It sets up Box 2 by moving the root to string 4, fret 4.
Common questions
What notes are in F♯ whole-half?
F♯ whole-half scale contains F♯, G♯, A, B, B♯, C♯♯, D♯, and E♯. The pattern alternates whole and half steps. It is also called F♯ diminished scale. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit F♯ whole-half?
F♯ whole-half works over F♯ diminished and F♯ diminished 7th chords. It also fits G♯ major and G♯ minor chords. The scale's tritone and leading tone create strong resolution.
How does F♯ whole-half differ from F♯ bebop melodic minor?
F♯ whole-half and F♯ bebop melodic minor share six notes. The whole-half scale has B♯ and C♯♯ instead of C♯ and D. This changes the fifth degree and adds a tritone.