C# Half-Whole on the Fretboard
In C# the half-whole pattern lands on C#, D, D##, E#, F##, G#, A# and B. The C# half-whole scale needs those double sharps on paper, yet you fret E, F and G.
Look for the root on the 9th fret of the low E string or the 4th fret of the A string. The same eight pitches are called E, G and Bb half-whole in simpler spellings.
Play the C# half-whole scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the C# half-whole scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| C# | 1 | Root | 0 |
| D | b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 |
| D## | #2 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| E# | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| F## | #4 | Tritone | 6 |
| G# | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| A# | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| B | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
C# half-whole scale notes:
How the half-whole scale is built:
The half-whole scale is built from the degrees 1 b2 #2 3 #4 5 6 b7, which gives the step pattern H-W-H-W-H-W-H-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10. That makes it a 8-note scale.
It is also known as Diminished Scale (Half-Whole) and Octatonic.
C# Half-Whole Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (B)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
The half-whole scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
