D Whole-Half Diminished Scale
Listen plays the scale. Play Along lights up each note in order so you can follow.
D – E – F – G – A♭ – B♭ – B – C♯ – D
Formula:W-H-W-H-W-H-W-H
Intervals:P1-M2-m3-P4-d5-m6-M6-M7
Introduction
The D Whole-Half Diminished scale contains eight notes: D, E, F, G, A♭, B♭, B, and C♯. It follows the whole-step / half-step pattern W-H-W-H-W-H-W-H.
D Whole-Half Diminished Scale Notes
| Degree | Name | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | D | P1 |
| 2 | Supertonic | E | M2 |
| 3 | Mediant | F | m3 |
| 4 | Subdominant | G | P4 |
| 5 | Dominant | A♭ | d5 |
| 6 | Submediant | B♭ | m6 |
| 7 | Leading Tone | B | M6 |
| 8 | Octave | C♯ | M7 |
| 9 | Degree 9 | D | — |
Key Signature
The key of D Whole-Half Diminished has 2 sharps.
F♯C♯
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 D Whole-Half Diminished Scale
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the D Whole-Half Diminished Scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — D Major (major)
D Whole-Half Diminished Scale — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the D Whole-Half Diminished Scale?
The D Whole-Half Diminished Scale contains eight notes: D – E – F – G – Ab – Bb – B – C#. The notes table above shows each note with its scale degree and interval from the root.
How many sharps or flats does D Whole-Half Diminished have?
The key of D Whole-Half Diminished has 2 sharps: F♯, C♯. 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 D Whole-Half Diminished Scale sound like?
The D Whole-Half 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.