C Blues Diminished Scale on Ukulele: Notes

How it is built

C1D♭♭2E♭♭3E3G♭♭5G5A6B♭♭7

Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7

Chords these notes build

C1C 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♭♭2C♯ Diminished C♯ Diminished 7th C♯ Diminished Major 7th
E♭♭3E♭ 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
E3E Diminished E Diminished 7th E Diminished Major 7th
G♭♭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
G5G Diminished G Diminished 7th G Diminished Major 7th
A6A 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
B♭♭7B♭ Diminished B♭ Diminished 7th B♭ Diminished Major 7th

How do you play the C blues diminished scale on ukulele?

C blues diminished in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 12 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 C string at fret 0 and the A string at fret 3.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 2 · frets 3–6

C blues diminished in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 12 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the C string at fret 3 up to E♭ on the A string at fret 6. The root falls on the G string at fret 5 and the A string at fret 3.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 3 · frets 6–9

C blues diminished in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 12 notes across 4 strings, from G♭ on the C string at fret 6 up to G♭ on the A string at fret 9. The root falls on the E string at fret 8.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	6, 8, 9	D♭, E♭, E
3 (C)	6, 7, 9	G♭, G, A
2 (E)	6, 8, 9	B♭, C, D♭
1 (A)	6, 7, 9	E♭, E, G♭

Box 4 · frets 9–12

C blues diminished in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 12 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 12.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Why it sounds like that

C blues diminished is the eight-note half-whole pattern: H, W, H, W, H, W, H, W. It adds a ♭2 to C hungarian major, keeping the ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, and ♭7. The scale contains a tritone between C and G♭, but no leading tone.

When to use it

C blues diminished fits C major and C minor chords, adding a ♭2 and ♭5 for tension. Use it over blues, jazz, and funk progressions in C. The scale also works over diminished chords built on C♯, E, G, and B♭.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. It covers frets 0–3 and keeps the root under the first finger on string 4.

Common questions

What notes are in C blues diminished?

C blues diminished contains C, D♭, E♭, E, G♭, G, A, and B♭. The scale has eight notes. It includes both a minor third and a major third.

Which chords does C blues diminished fit?

C blues diminished fits C major and C minor chords. It also works over C♯, E, G, and B♭ diminished chords. The scale adds chromatic tension to blues progressions.

Is C blues diminished the same as C diminished?

No. C blues diminished has eight notes, while C diminished has seven. The blues diminished scale adds a major third and a major sixth.