B Half-Whole Diminished Scale
Listen plays the scale. Play Along lights up each note in order so you can follow.
B – C – D – D♯ – F – F♯ – G♯ – A – B
Formula:H-W-H-W-H-W-H-W
Intervals:P1-m2-m3-M3-d5-P5-M6-m7
Introduction
The B Half-Whole Diminished scale contains eight notes: B, C, D, D♯, F, F♯, G♯, and A. It follows the whole-step / half-step pattern H-W-H-W-H-W-H-W.
B Half-Whole Diminished Scale Notes
| Degree | Name | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | B | P1 |
| 2 | Supertonic | C | m2 |
| 3 | Mediant | D | m3 |
| 4 | Subdominant | D♯ | M3 |
| 5 | Dominant | F | d5 |
| 6 | Submediant | F♯ | P5 |
| 7 | Leading Tone | G♯ | M6 |
| 8 | Octave | A | m7 |
| 9 | Degree 9 | B | — |
Key Signature
The key of B Half-Whole Diminished has 5 sharps.
F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯
Order of sharps
Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.
F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯E♯B♯
Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Chords in the Key of B Half-Whole Diminished Scale
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the B Half-Whole Diminished Scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — B Major (major)
B Half-Whole Diminished Scale — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the B Half-Whole Diminished Scale?
The B Half-Whole Diminished Scale contains eight notes: B – C – D – D# – F – F# – G# – A. The notes table above shows each note with its scale degree and interval from the root.
How many sharps or flats does B Half-Whole Diminished have?
The key of B Half-Whole Diminished has 5 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯. Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order — F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯ — so each new sharp key adds the next sharp on that list.
What does the B Half-Whole Diminished Scale sound like?
The B Half-Whole Diminished Scale has a distinctive sound shaped by its specific interval pattern. Listen to the audio playback above to hear the character on every note.
Related Tools
Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.