Eb Whole-Half Scale on Ukulele: Notes, Positions

How it is built

E♭1F2G♭♭3A♭4A♯4B♯5C6D7

Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7

Chords these notes build

E♭1E♭ Diminished E♭ Diminished 7th E♭ Diminished Major 7th
F2F 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
G♭♭3F♯ Diminished F♯ Diminished 7th F♯ Diminished Major 7th
A♭4A♭ 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♯4A Diminished A Diminished 7th A Diminished Major 7th
B♯5B 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
C6C Diminished C Diminished 7th C Diminished Major 7th
D7D 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

How do you play the E♭ whole-half scale on ukulele?

E♭ 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 3.

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, G♭
1 (A)	0, 2, 3	A, B, C

Box 2 · frets 3–6

E♭ whole-half in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 10 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)	4, 5	B, C
3 (C)	3, 5, 6	E♭, F, G♭
2 (E)	4, 5	A♭, A
1 (A)	3, 5, 6	C, D, E♭

Box 3 · frets 5–8

E♭ 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 8 and the A string at fret 6.

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

Box 4 · frets 8–11

E♭ whole-half 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 G string at fret 8 and the E string at fret 11.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Why it sounds like that

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

When to use it

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

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 3, fret 3, and the shape covers frets 0–3.

Common questions

What notes are in E♭ whole-half?

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

Which chords does E♭ whole-half fit?

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

How does E♭ whole-half differ from E♭ bebop melodic minor?

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