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E♭ blues diminished scale on ukulele
E♭ blues diminished runs E♭, F♭, G♭, G, B♭♭, B♭, C, D♭. Box 1 places roots on string 3 fret 3 and string 1 fret 6.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the E♭ blues diminished scale on ukulele?
E♭ 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 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 0, 2, 3 | G, B♭♭, B♭ |
| 3 (C) | 0, 1, 3 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (E) | 0, 2, 3 | F♭, G♭, G |
| 1 (A) | 0, 1, 3 | B♭♭, B♭, C |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
E♭ 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 C string at fret 3 and the A string at fret 6.
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♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 2 (E) | 3, 5, 6 | G, B♭♭, B♭ |
| 1 (A) | 3, 4, 6 | C, D♭, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
E♭ 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 G string at fret 8 and the A string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (C) | 6, 7, 9 | G♭, G, B♭♭ |
| 2 (E) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (A) | 6, 7, 9 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
E♭ blues diminished in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 12 notes across 4 strings, from B♭♭ on the C string at fret 9 up to B♭♭ on the A string at fret 12. The root falls on the E string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9, 11, 12 | F♭, G♭, G |
| 3 (C) | 9, 10, 12 | B♭♭, B♭, C |
| 2 (E) | 9, 11, 12 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (A) | 9, 10, 12 | G♭, G, B♭♭ |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ blues diminished is the eight-note half-whole pattern: H, W, H, W, H, W, H, W. It adds a ♭2 to E♭ hungarian major, keeping the ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, and ♭7. The scale contains a tritone between E♭ and B♭♭, but no leading tone.
When to use it
E♭ blues diminished fits E♭ major and E♭ minor chords, adding a ♭2 and ♭5 for tension. Use it over blues, jazz, and funk progressions in E♭. The scale also works over diminished chords built on F♭, G, B♭, and D♭.
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 E♭ blues diminished?
E♭ blues diminished contains E♭, F♭, G♭, G, B♭♭, B♭, C, and D♭. The scale has eight notes. It includes both a minor third and a major third. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does E♭ blues diminished fit?
E♭ blues diminished fits E♭ major and E♭ minor chords. It also works over F♭, G, B♭, and D♭ diminished chords. The scale adds chromatic tension to blues progressions.
Is E♭ blues diminished the same as E♭ diminished?
No. E♭ blues diminished has eight notes, while E♭ diminished has seven. The blues diminished scale adds a major third and a major sixth.