A Whole Tone Scale on Guitar
Each note of the A whole tone scale sits exactly two frets from the next: A, B, C#, D#, E# and G. E# is the name theory gives to F here, so the page spells it correctly while you simply fret F.
The open A string is the root, and the 5th fret of the low E string repeats it. Only two whole tone scales exist, and A shares its pitches with the scales on B, C#, Eb, F and G.
Play the A whole-tone scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the A whole-tone scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | Root | 0 |
| B | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| C# | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| D# | #4 | Tritone | 6 |
| E# | #5 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| G | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
A whole-tone scale notes:
How the whole-tone scale is built:
The whole-tone scale is built from the degrees 1 2 3 #4 #5 b7, which gives the step pattern W-W-W-W-W-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. That makes it a 6-note scale.
A Whole-Tone Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (A)
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 whole-tone scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
