Scale of the Month – A Diminished – April '08

Scale of the Month – April 2008 – A Diminished Scale

The Scale

There are many ways in which to play an A Diminished scale, but we’ll stick with the 5th fret box position used throughout the series (2 Octaves):

Ascending
E|--------------------------------------------------------5--6--8------
B|---------------------------------------------5--7--8-----------------
G|-----------------------------------5--6--8---------------------------
D|----------------------4--5--7--8-------------------------------------
A|------------4--6--7--------------------------------------------------
E|--5--6--8------------------------------------------------------------

Descending
E|--8--6--5-------------------------------------------------------------
B|------------8--7--5---------------------------------------------------
G|----------------------8--6--5-----------------------------------------
D|--------------------------------8--7--5--4----------------------------
A|----------------------------------------------7--6--4-----------------
E|--------------------------------------------------------8--6--5-------

The Theory

The Diminished scale above is constructed by alternating half and whole tones, sometimes called the 'HW Diminished'. You can also construct diminished scales by alternating whole and half tones. This structure means that there are only 3 different diminished scales available to us, and all the others are modes of these (i.e. the notes are the same, but the intervallic structure and root note change).

For instance, a G diminished Arpeggio contains the notes G, Bb, Db, E – all a minor third apart. This structure means that a G diminished arpeggio has the same notes as a Bb, Db or E diminished arpeggio. Diminished runs are often used over dominant chords, or built on the 7th degree of the key being played. Fusion players typically combine diminished and Dorian modal runs to get a jazz/rock sound.

Some Example licks (Tab symbol key below)

1) Sweep Down

E|--18-p-15----------15-p-12---------12-p-9--------9-p-6-------6-p-3--------
B|------------17----------------14--------------11-----------8------------5---
G|----------------18----------------15-------------12-----------9-----------6-
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

2) Economy Pick:

E|--12-p-9--------9------------------------------------------------------------
B|----------11-------11---------11---------------------------------------------
G|-------------12-------12-p-9-----12-p-9------12-p-9-------------------------
D|--------------------------------------------11-----------11------------------
A|--------------------------------------------------------------13--------------
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3) Linear Arpeggio:

E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------11--17~~--
B|---------------------------------------------------------10--13---------10--13---------------
G|----------------------------------8--11---------8--11-----------8--11------------------------
D|--------------7--10-------7--10--------7--10-------------------------------------------------
A|--------6--9---------6--9---------------------------------------------------------------------
E|--5--8----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Hammer ons: h.
Pull offs: p.
Vibrato: ~.
Bends: b.
Release bend: br.
Tap: t.
Slides: / or \ depending on direction.

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