A Whole-Half Scale on Ukulele: Notes, Positions

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 ukulele?

A whole-half in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 10 notes across 4 strings, from C on the C string at fret 0 up to C on the A string at fret 3. The root falls on the G string at fret 2 and the A string at fret 0.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	1, 2	G♯, A
3 (C)	0, 2, 3	C, D, D♯
2 (E)	1, 2	E♯, F♯
1 (A)	0, 2, 3	A, B, C

Box 2 · frets 2–5

A whole-half in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 12 notes across 4 strings, from D on the C string at fret 2 up to D on the A string at fret 5. The root falls on the G string at fret 2 and the E string at fret 5.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 3 · frets 5–8

A whole-half in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 12 notes across 4 strings, from E♯ on the C string at fret 5 up to E♯ on the A string at fret 8. The root falls on the E string at fret 5.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 4 · frets 9–12

A whole-half in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 10 notes across 4 strings, from A on the C string at fret 9 up to A on the A string at fret 12. The root falls on the C string at fret 9 and the A string at fret 12.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	10, 11	E♯, F♯
3 (C)	9, 11, 12	A, B, C
2 (E)	10, 11	D, D♯
1 (A)	9, 11, 12	F♯, G♯, A

Why it sounds like that

A whole-half alternates whole and half steps from A. The ♯4 D♯ and ♯5 E♯ create the diminished flavor. Compare with A bebop melodic minor to hear the raised fifth. The scale includes a leading tone G♯.

When to use it

A whole-half fits A diminished and A diminished 7th chords. Use it over A diminished progressions in jazz or metal. The leading tone resolves to A major or A minor.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 4, fret 2, and the shape covers frets 0–3.

Common questions

What notes are in A whole-half?

A whole-half contains A, B, C, D, D♯, E♯, F♯, and G♯. The scale alternates whole and half steps. It is also called A diminished.

Which chords does A whole-half fit?

A whole-half fits A diminished and A diminished 7th chords. Use it over diminished progressions. The leading tone resolves to A major or A minor.

How does A whole-half differ from A bebop melodic minor?

A whole-half has a ♯4 D♯ and ♯5 E♯, while A bebop melodic minor has a perfect 5th E and an added F. The whole-half scale sounds more diminished.