D Blues Diminished Scale on Ukulele: Notes

How it is built

D1E♭♭2F♭3F♯3A♭♭5A5B6C♭7

Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7

Chords these notes build

D1D 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♭♭2E♭ Diminished E♭ Diminished 7th E♭ Diminished Major 7th
F♭3F 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♯3F♯ Diminished F♯ Diminished 7th F♯ Diminished Major 7th
A♭♭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
A5A Diminished A Diminished 7th A Diminished Major 7th
B6B 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♭7C Diminished C Diminished 7th C Diminished Major 7th

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

D blues diminished 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 2.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	1, 2	A♭, 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

D blues diminished 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 C string at fret 2 and the A 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, E♭, F
2 (E)	2, 4, 5	F♯, A♭, A
1 (A)	2, 3, 5	B, C, D

Box 3 · frets 5–8

D blues diminished 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 7 and the A string at fret 5.

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♯, A♭
2 (E)	5, 7, 8	A, B, C
1 (A)	5, 6, 8	D, E♭, F

Box 4 · frets 8–11

D blues diminished in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 12 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the C string at fret 8 up to A♭ on the A string at fret 11. The root falls on the E string at fret 10.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	8, 10, 11	E♭, F, F♯
3 (C)	8, 9, 11	A♭, A, B
2 (E)	8, 10, 11	C, D, E♭
1 (A)	8, 9, 11	F, F♯, A♭

Why it sounds like that

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

When to use it

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

Which position to practise

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

Common questions

What notes are in D blues diminished?

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

Which chords does D blues diminished fit?

D blues diminished fits D major and D minor chords. It also works over D♯, F♯, A, and C diminished chords. The scale adds chromatic tension to blues progressions.

Is D blues diminished the same as D diminished?

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