C# Whole-Half Scale on Ukulele: Notes, Positions

How it is built

C♯1D♯2E♭3F♯4F♯♯♯4G♯♯♯5A♯6B♯7

Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7

Chords these notes build

C♯1C♯ Diminished C♯ Diminished 7th C♯ Diminished Major 7th
D♯2E♭ 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♭3E Diminished E Diminished 7th E Diminished Major 7th
F♯4F♯ 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♯♯♯4G Diminished G Diminished 7th G Diminished Major 7th
G♯♯♯5A 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
A♯6B♭ Diminished B♭ Diminished 7th B♭ Diminished Major 7th
B♯7C 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

How do you play the C♯ whole-half scale on ukulele?

C♯ whole-half in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 10 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 C string at fret 1 and the A string at fret 4.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 2 · frets 3–6

C♯ whole-half in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 12 notes across 4 strings, from D♯ on the C string at fret 3 up to D♯ on the A string at fret 6. The root falls on the G string at fret 6 and the A string at fret 4.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 3 · frets 6–9

C♯ whole-half in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 12 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the C string at fret 6 up to F♯ on the A string at fret 9. The root falls on the G string at fret 6 and the E string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 4 · frets 9–12

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

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Why it sounds like that

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

When to use it

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

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 4, fret 6, and the shape covers frets 1–4.

Common questions

What notes are in C♯ whole-half?

C♯ whole-half contains C♯, D♯, E, F♯, F♯♯, G♯♯, A♯, and B♯. The scale alternates whole and half steps. It is also called C♯ diminished. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

Which chords does C♯ whole-half fit?

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

How does C♯ whole-half differ from C♯ bebop melodic minor?

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