C Whole-Half Scale on Ukulele: Notes, Positions

How it is built

C1D2E♭♭3F4F♯♯4G♯♯5A6B7

Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7

Chords these notes build

C1C Diminished C Diminished 7th C Diminished Major 7th
D2D 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
E♭♭3E♭ Diminished E♭ Diminished 7th E♭ Diminished Major 7th
F4F 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♯♯4F♯ Diminished F♯ Diminished 7th F♯ 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
A6A Diminished A Diminished 7th A Diminished Major 7th
B7B 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 C whole-half scale on ukulele?

C 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 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)	1, 2	G♯, A
3 (C)	0, 2, 3	C, D, E♭
2 (E)	1, 2	F, F♯
1 (A)	0, 2, 3	A, B, C

Box 2 · frets 2–5

C 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 5 and the A string at fret 3.

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

Box 3 · frets 5–8

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

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 4 · frets 8–11

C whole-half in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 12 notes across 4 strings, from G♯ on the C string at fret 8 up to G♯ on the A string at fret 11. The root falls on the E string at fret 8.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	8, 10, 11	E♭, F, F♯
3 (C)	8, 9, 11	G♯, A, B
2 (E)	8, 10, 11	C, D, E♭
1 (A)	8, 9, 11	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 5, and the shape covers frets 0–3.

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.

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.