That is, instead of the sequence being: tone-semitone-tone-semitone, etc; starting from the second degree, we will have: semitone-tone-semitone-tone, etc. Dominant Diminished Scale Pattern. In the same way that we observed for the diminished chord, the diminished scale is repeated every three semitones. When you hear a certain scale, you probably associate it with something. Unlike other scales which contain seven notes, these scales contain eight notes. We will explain this concept. C D D# F F# G# A B play notes As we will see later, you can use the C diminished scale over B7. Also, we can simplify and summarize all 12 diminished scales to just 3 scale types : “A” diminished scale, “B” diminished scale and “C” diminished scale “A” diminished scale type “B” diminished scale type “C” diminished scale type. These CAGED scale patterns help you learn the So far, no new concepts here. We assign numeric value (an interval) to each note, the scales will use the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Diminished 5th. You can make up a phrase on the diminished scale and repeat it every three semitones, creating a very interesting effect. It’s common to see the diminished triad and the half-diminished 7th chords (m7♭5), but the m11♭5 is rarely seen. Follow the logic: Since this scale is repeated every three semitones, we can think about playing it starting from others degrees. Listen & Play Along . We will see this concept applied in the examples. This will facilitate logic. The C diminished chord contains the notes C, Eb and Gb. A more advanced diminished scale is the Fully Diminished scale (half-step/whole-step). One of the most popular uses for the diminished chord is as a bridge between two other chords. Another advantage is the repetition of patterns on string instruments. The below diagrams show you how to play the C Diminished chord in various positions on the fretboard with suggested finger positions.. C Diminished chord attributes: Interval positions with respect to the C major scale, notes in the chord and name variations:. Major 2nd. The Diminished Scale is built upon two diminished seventh chords. C half-diminished 7th chord. Notice now that we used exactly this second sequence on top of the dominant chords, because in the previous example we played the G# diminished scale starting from the G note, that is, the structure was semitone-tone-semitone-tone, etc. Pattern 1. play notes. If the G7 chord resolved in a chord other than C, we would have a deceptive resolution. Formula What is the formula for the C diminished scale. Create your own musical phrases and get fluent in this topic. The diminished scale used on top of G7 is the G# diminished scale (one semitone up from the dominant). There is no point in memorizing things that will not be applied in practice. The diminished scale is a symmetric scale formed by the sequence: Tone – Semitone – Tone – Semitone – Tone – Semitone – Tone. Therefore, don’t think that they are different scales, just consider that it is the same diminished scale, only applied on top of the dominant (played a semitone above it). In this case, the tonic (fundamental) of the dominant chord is played (that is, the scale starts with that note) and then the diminished scale is played a semitone above that tonic. This is one of the advantages. Combine two minor tetrachords a tritone apart (a tetrachord is a 4-note scale, and a minor tetrachord is basically the first 4 notes of the Dorian minor mode, so for example, combine the first 4 notes of a C- scale with the first 4 notes of an F#- scale) But as this scale is identical to the D# scale, and D# is much closer to E than C, we can take advantage of this small distance and use the D# diminished scale (instead of C diminished) to make improvisation more fluent. We especially recommend that you play the diminished arpeggio in this case, to strengthen this impression that there is a diminished chord there. In the same way that we observed for the diminished chord, the diminished scale is repeated every three semitones. For example, the G7 chord is a dominant that resolves in C major. The full diminished scale will use 9 notes. In most sheet music books, the notation Cdim or C o denotes a diminished seventh chord with root C; but it may also happen, mostly in modern jazz books and some music theory literature, that Cdim or C o denotes a diminished triad (more commonly denoted Cm ♭5), while Cdim 7 or C o7 in these books denotes a diminished seventh chord (corresponding to Cm 6♭5). the intervals repeat in a pattern) Because it is a symmetrical scale (and much like the diminished chord) there are only three unique diminished scales: C = E♭ = G♭ = A diminished scale In this case, we are deceiving the listener by making him believe that there is a diminished chord at that point. Well, let’s say you are improvising a solo in E minor until, at a certain point in the song, the B7 chord appears. ©2014-2020 All Rights Reserved - Simplifying Theory. I briefly cover those two scales in my Diminished Modes, Chords & Scale article. This is just one way of thinking, and it can be very useful in practice. It is very worthwhile to invest time in this study. There are really only 3 diminished scales – C, C#, and D. When we build the scale starting on D# we get the same scale as the C diminished scale, as it is just an inversion of the C diminished scale. Moral of the story: the dom-dim scale is the diminished scale applied on top of the dominant chord. Scale intervals: 1 - b3 - b5 Notes in the chord: C - Eb - Gb Various names: Cdim - C diminished Because of that it is also commonly referred to as the whole-half diminished scale. Then the student thinks: “Why am I going to waste time memorizing this scale if I will never use it?” And this is absolutely right! As you might imagine, the diminished scale can be played over the diminished chord. Root Note. The same is true for the other remaining starting notes. The notes from two such seventh-chords combination form an octatonic collection. Thinking about a scale one semitone above G7 can slow our response a little when improvising. 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