A Diminished Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Open A tuning — fretboard diagram
A Diminished in Open A — Notes and Intervals
The A Diminished scale, also known as the Octatonic scale and Messiaen's Mode of Limited Transposition #2, alternates whole and half steps to create an 8-note symmetrical structure. On Guitar, its notes are A, B, C, D, Eb, F, F#, G#. Only three unique diminished scales exist — after three transpositions, the notes repeat. It is the definitive sound of film noir, thrillers, and psychological horror, used by composers from Stravinsky to Hans Zimmer to evoke dread, ambiguity, and mounting tension. Use it over dim7 chords and as a sophisticated tension device over dominant 7ths. Commonly used in Jazz, Film Scores, Classical, Metal. Notable players include Django Reinhardt, Joe Pass, Bela Bartok, Dream Theater. Use over dim7 chords and as a tension device over dominant 7ths. Each diminished scale works over 4 different root notes (every minor 3rd).
Notes: A, B, C, D, Eb, F, F#, G#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5d, 6m, 6M, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 8
Formula: W-H-W-H-W-H-W-H
Number of notes: 8
Tuning: Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
Also known as: whole-half diminished
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- A Diminished in Standard Tuning
- A Diminished in Drop D
- A Diminished in DADGAD
- A Diminished in Open G
- A Diminished in Baritone (B Standard)
- A Diminished in 7-string
- A Diminished in 8-string
- A Diminished in Drop C
- A Diminished in Drop B
- A Diminished in Open D
- A Diminished in Half Step Down
- A Diminished in Open E
- A Diminished in Double Drop D
- A Diminished in Open C