Ab Diminished (Half-Whole)

AbBbbCbCEbbEbFGb

Diagrams

Staff Notation

Staff Notation

Piano Keyboard

Ab Diminished (Half-Whole) scale – keys Ab, Bbb, Cb, C, Ebb, Eb, F, Gb highlightedPiano keyboard with keys Ab, Bbb, Cb, C, Ebb, Eb, F, Gb highlighted. Ab is the root note.BbbCbCEbbFAbEbGb

Guitar Fretboard

Guitar fretboard diagram for Ab Diminished (Half-Whole)Scale positions across frets 0–12 with notes F, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cb, C, Ebb, Eb.EBGDAE357912

Intervals

DegreeNoteIntervalSemitones
1AbP10
2Bbbm21
3Cbm33
4CM34
5Ebbd56
6EbP57
7FM69
8Gbm710

Diatonic Chords in Ab Diminished (Half-Whole)

DegreeNumeralChord
1 Abdim
2ii° Bbbdim
3iii° Cbdim
4iv° Cdim
5 Ebbdim
6vi° Ebdim
7vii° Fdim
8viii° Gbdim

About Ab Diminished (Half-Whole)

The Ab Diminished (Half-Whole) contains 8 notes: Ab, Bbb, Cb, C, Ebb, Eb, F, Gb. This scale is built by following a specific pattern of intervals from the root note Ab, which gives it its distinctive sound and character. Understanding the interval structure of a scale is essential for improvisation, composition, and recognizing the scale by ear.

The diatonic chords shown above are the chords that occur naturally within this scale. They are formed by stacking thirds from each degree of the scale, and they form the harmonic foundation for music written in this key. Knowing these chords helps you build chord progressions, understand song harmony, and improvise melodies that fit over each chord. Try the Chord Progression Generator to hear how these chords sound together.