B Whole-Half Scale on Ukulele: Notes, Positions

How it is built

B1C♯2D♭3E4E♯♯4F♯♯♯5G♯6A♯7

Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7

Chords these notes build

B1B Diminished B Diminished 7th B Diminished Major 7th
C♯2C♯ Major C♯ Minor C♯ 5th C♯ 7th C♯ Minor 7th C♯ 7th Flat 5 C♯ Minor 7th Flat 5th C♯ 6th C♯ Minor 6th C♯ Diminished C♯ Diminished 7th
D♭3D Diminished D Diminished 7th D Diminished Major 7th
E4E Major E Minor E 5th E 7th E Minor 7th E 7th Flat 5 E Minor 7th Flat 5th E 6th E Minor 6th E Diminished E Diminished 7th
E♯♯4F Diminished F Diminished 7th F Diminished Major 7th
F♯♯♯5G Major G Minor G 5th G 7th G Minor 7th G 7th Flat 5 G Minor 7th Flat 5th G 6th G Minor 6th G Diminished G Diminished 7th
G♯6A♭ Diminished A♭ Diminished 7th A♭ Diminished Major 7th
A♯7B♭ 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 B whole-half scale on ukulele?

B whole-half in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 12 notes across 4 strings, from C♯ on the C string at fret 1 up to C♯ on the A string at fret 4. The root falls on the G string at fret 4 and the A string at fret 2.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 2 · frets 4–7

B whole-half in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 12 notes across 4 strings, from E on the C string at fret 4 up to E on the A string at fret 7. The root falls on the G string at fret 4 and the E string at fret 7.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 3 · frets 7–10

B whole-half in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 12 notes across 4 strings, from F♯♯ on the C string at fret 7 up to F♯♯ on the A string at fret 10. The root falls on the E string at fret 7.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Why it sounds like that

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

When to use it

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

Which position to practise

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

Common questions

What notes are in B whole-half?

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

Which chords does B whole-half fit?

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

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

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