First up, let's look at the whole tone scale. The whole tone scale is made up of exactly what you might think: whole tones! The interval formula of a whole tone scale is: W – W – W – W – W – W(whole steps). In music, a whole tone scale is a scale in which each note is separated from the next one by an interval of a whole tone.There is always one note (a semitone) in between each neighbouring pair of notes of the whole-tone scale. I think the question is rather, in which pieces doesn't Debussy use the whole tone scale ;) level 1. It is great to use over dominant #5 chords as long as you understand the notes you will get: 9th, #11, #5. C-sharp Whole-tone scale . The most obvious use of the whole tone scale is for augmented dominant seventh chords, for example, the second chord of “Take the A Train.” The tune goes: C6 (or Cmaj7) for two bars, then D+7 for two bars. So, I recommend trying out some of the playing examples, and then putting it into a tune for real. This scale is similar to the diminished scale in as much as it is exactly the same scale, just starting on one of the 4 notes that is followed by a half step instead of a whole step). Try playing through the scale, and then playing some of these chords to hear/see how they "fit together"! I mentioned that there were two applications of the Whole Tone scale, and we've really only looked at one, its use over a dominant chord. As always, we're happy to answer any questions you may have in the comments below! The whole tone scale can be applied on top of the dominant chords. The scale consists of six tones (the pictures show one octave including both the start and end note, the tonic). So this means that the scale will work on any "Galt" chord, plus G7b9, G7#9, G7b9b5, and so on. If you don't know that scale, we've got a lesson just for you! As with the other scales, let's test some of this out for ourselves: Here's a quick theory trick! These are the notes that give the whole tone scale its unique, "dreamlike" sound. Pieces that use the whole tone scale? In addition, you can identify the whole-tone scale by eye because it only has 6 different scale degrees, versus 7 in a major or minor scale. Whatever note is started on, the whole tone scale … E-flat Whole-tone scale . You can get two scales for the price of one with this scale. Try applying the C and D whole tone scales over both the C7#5 and D7#5 chords in the following progression: To make sure you fully understand this concept, ask yourself: what scale do you get if you play the Db7 altered scale over G7?*. Because all the notes have 1 tone of distance among them.. You can also notice that this scale … The Whole Tone Scale Learn how the Whole Tone Scale is built and how to use it In this tutorial we're going to learn an uncommon type of guitar scale , the Whole-tone scale, that, as the name suggests, is composed of only whole-tones. C Whole-tone scale . The whole tone scale is most usually used over the "V" chord with a lowered or raised 5th (I use it all the time on the G7#5 chord in "Stella By Starlight" for example). Autumn Leaves Tutorial - Intro, Chord Melody, Single-Note Solo & Chord Shapes, The Ultimate No Nonsense Guide to Jazz Harmony, How to Play Shell Voicings for Jazz Guitar (3-Note Chords). If we analyze the scale degrees of each of these notes we end up with this: There a couple things to notice here! The scale was used as a comic device by W. A. Mozart in the sextet A Musical Joke (1787), and it is encountered from time to time in romantic music. Chord Chart for BeginnersJazz Chords: Ultimate GuideHow to Play Shell VoicingsComping Lesson of Your DreamsHow to Learn Voicings?Drop 2 Challenge!Chords From Three ScalesIntro to Bossa Nova CompingUncommon Uses of Common…Create Harmonic MovementWalking and Chromatic ChordsVoice Leading TutorialBig Five: Chords Warm UpBarry Galbraith Comping StudiesBarry Harris Harmony Primer, Complete List of Tunes HERE7 Steps to Learning Jazz TunesDummies Guide to Jazz StandardsHow to Learn Jazz StandardsAutumn LeavesAll the Things You AreSummertimeMistyMoon RiverBlue in GreenGiant StepsMy Funny ValentineI Fall in Love Too EasilyTake the “A” TrainBlue MonkBody and SoulThe Shadow of Your SmileStella by StarlightTenor MadnessHow InsensitiveOleoStraight No ChaserJust FriendsWhat Is This Thing Called LoveYesterdaysSolarSilent NightIf I Should Lose YouCommon Tunes for Jam Sessions, ALL Theory Articles Here Chord Substitutions: Survival Guide Chord Progressions for Beginners No Nonsense Jazz Harmony Chords: Theory Basic Jazz Chord Cycles Scales: Theory Dominants: Ultimate Guide Reading Rhythms 101 The Major Scale Reading Exercises How to Analyze Progressions? With all that said, you're probably wondering what the proper fingerings are for the whole scale on guitar. 4 years ago. The Chromatic Whole Tone Scale is a great alternative to use over the diminished scale due to the fact of it having a lot more triad combinations. The whole tone scale produces a tonally ambiguous sound that when played alone can create an ‘eerie’ or ‘ominous’ mood. Looking at it from the perspective of Db7, we would call this scale Db7 lydian dominant. Here are 5 cool examples of the whole tone scale being used in rock songs. The suspended second, sharped fifth chord is built from the 1, 2, #5 from the major scale. E-flat Whole-tone scale . However, the whole tone scale has 6 notes that are all a whole step apart, making its intervallic formula easy to remember - W-W-W-W-W-W. Since then it has been used often in classical music by composers such as Bach, Mozart, Berlioz, and Schubert. For example: in the Am7 | G7 | C progression, we can play the hexatonic scale of G on top of G7. Impressionist composers such as Claude Debussy were quite fond of the scale and used it often in their compositions.The most famous use of the whole tone scale in popular music is in the intro of Stevie Wonder’s You Are The Sunshine Of My Life. It is not for nothing that it is called “Whole Tone Scale”, is it? F Whole-tone scale . The application of this scale really shines when you use it over one chord vamps and modal tunes that have a slow-moving harmonic rhythm. F-sharp Whole-tone scale . The Whole Tone Scale Learn how the Whole Tone Scale is built and how to use it In this tutorial we're going to learn an uncommon type of guitar scale , the Whole-tone scale, that, as the name suggests, is composed of only whole-tones. Taking into account this pattern, a whole tone scale is a hexatonic scale i.e. So, what this means in practical terms is that the G whole tone scale will work over chords that use those notes as extensions: such as G9, G7#5, G7b5, etc. Within this group of notes we get some notes straight from the G7 chord 1, 3 and b7. A whole tone is the same as two steps on the keyboard – a half tone is consequently one step. It’s the completely opposite of a chromatic scale– which is made up entirely of half step intervals (semitones). a scale composed entirely of whole tones, six to the octave. This post will answer both of those questions, and more! … Using The Whole Tone Scale To Solo Over The Sus2#5 Chord. A: Much of what goes into deciding what scale to use over any given chord is all about the context (what chords are surrounding it, how is it functioning harmonically, etc.) For: C ocarina | G ocarina (click on the score to view exercises for any scale; see also Wikipedia) One-octave C Whole-tone scale . To do this, just play the hexatonic of the dominant in question. The scale is spelled out: 1/2 whole 1/2 whole whole whole whole (steps). E Whole-tone scale . Like the chromatic scale that only uses half-steps, the whole-tone scale only uses whole-steps. In addition to this, we get some more colourful notes: 9, b5, and #5. So, the whole tone scale can be played over a dominant 7 th or 9 th chord with a sharp five and sharp eleven. Occasionally, you’ll see an augmented triad (1, 3, #5). The whole tone scale is unique in that it only has six notes. - think of it as a V chord in a ii-V-I progression in C major. Whole Tone Scale . Also fine: augmented triads (as long as they don’t imply a major 7.) What are the differences between these scales, and when do you use them? They can also be used over seventh flat 5 chords (e.g. It’s made up entirely of whole step intervals (tones). The whole … The composer Olivier Messiaen called the whole-tone scale his first mode of limited transposition.The composer and music theorist George Perle calls the whole-tone scale interval cycle 2, or C2. Whole-tone scale, all keys. There are only 2 possible whole note scale combinations: This scale is a combination of a diminished scale and a whole-tone scale. Choose your favourite! . Below is an example of a whole-tone scale: The whole-tone scale is one of the modes of limited transposition, because there … To recap, G altered = Db7 lydian dominant. Try it over a backing track so you can really hear how each tone of the scale sounds over the chord. One again, we can see a clear picture that the whole tone contains these notes and thus would be an excellent choice to use … As a result of the 6 major 2nd intervals in the scale, there are only 2 … Whole tone scales are often used in jazz, and can be used to play over augmented and augmented 7th chords such as G+, or G7+. D Whole-tone scale . Marc-Andre Seguin is the webmaster, mastermind and teacher on JazzGuitarLessons.net, the #1 online resource for learning how to play jazz guitar. An easy way to think of this is by using our existing knowledge of the melodic minor scale. Major chords – do use use whole tone? If we stack these scale degrees to create a chord, we get 1, 3, #5, b7, 9, #11. What we're going to do is play the 7th mode of the melodic minor scale. Try applying the C and D whole tone scales over both the C7#5 and D7#5 chords in the following progression: For example, for G7, this would be Ab melodic minor. He draws from his experience both as a professional jazz guitarist and professional jazz teacher to help thousands of people from all around the world learn the craft of jazz guitar. Here I've laid out some fingerings which I personally find to be the most practical. Remember to start the scale on the root of each chord. Is it correct to think that the whole-half scale follows the same concept, except it applies to approaching the dim7 chord tones from a whole step below?---M-A's Comment: Absolutely. Just like we did for the whole tone scale, let's play some of these chords and then play through the scale to get your ears acquainted with the sound: Recommended listening: check out this video of Jim Hall playing an original blues composition. Your comment comment will be manually validate. Notice the first half of the scale is diminished and the second half is whole-tone. Notice how the Whole Tone scale helps us to link all these ideas together in a way that sounds logical. Next up, we've got the half-whole diminished scale (or H/W diminished for short)! Whole Tone Scale or Hexatonic Scale is a scale made by the sequence: tone – tone – tone – tone – tone – tone.. This is a rather uncommon scale, but is for example used in … Q: So, do you play whole tone scales over the ?5, and altered scales over the dominant chords. Pretty cool, right? Minor scales – do use use dorian? All you have to do is think of the melodic minor scale that's one semitone above the root of the chord you're soloing over. The Harmonic Minor Scale The Melodic Minor Scale, ALL Book Reviews Here Forward Motion Modern Method Advancing Guitarist Barry Galbraith Books Cellular Approach Barry Harris Workshop Connecting Chords w Linear Harmony Harris Harmonic Method Demo Three Note Voicings Chord Dictionary, How to Play Chord Melody Guide 3 Steps to Chord Melody Five Chord Melody Tips for Jazz Guitar … Makes You Question Everything, Basics: 3 Powerful Fundamentals Top-50 Blues Tunes (List) Jazzing Up the Blues Beginner Jazz Blues Soloing Common Jazz Blues Progressions Intro to Bird Blues for Jazz Guitar Jazz Blues SOLOING Lesson Blues COMPING Lesson, Introduction to Rhythm ChangesPentatonics for Jazz Definitive Guide to Scale Positions How to Solo on II-V-I Jazz Guitar Arpeggios Jazz Guitar Licks Ideas Jazz Improv: Ultimate Guide How to Create Melodic Lines 4 Bebop Scale Fingerings 3 Jazz Scales for Beginners Sound Jazzy: Alt Dominants Adding Chromaticism to Your Lines Diagonal Scales for Jazz Phrasing Parallel Licks with Augmented Triads The Three Pillars of Jazz Improv Using Double-Stops Melodically Post-Holdsworth Jazz Vocab Using the Diminished Scale Improv on Typically Jazz Progressions Playing Over Turnarounds Major to Minor Jazz Licks Pillar #1: Define the Sandbox “Make the Changes” While Soloing Backdoor Jazz Guitar Licks How to Play What You Hear? Choose the whole tone scale starting on the root or third of the chord. , who often uses it in stride piano-style descending runs. (If you don't know that scale, we've got a lesson just for you!). Master the three variations of the diminished scale (C, C#, D) Explore scale pattern exercises (use Herbie’s lines as a starting point) Apply this scale to V7 sounds in your solos; V. Kenny Kirkland and the diminished sound. Take a look at your guitar and give yourself a little bit of a music theory reminder; each fret is a semitone away from the other. Starting from the note G (the root of our G7 chord), this gives us: A 6 note scale, or a hexatonic scale . We can also use it, sort of, over a minor chord, but when we do we have to play it a semitone lower. (Once you've gotten comfortable with using the scales over this chord, then try using it over the V chord in other keys!). So, you would play the G H/W diminished scale when the chart explicitly says G7b9, G7#9, G13b9 etc, OR if you just want to imply that kind of sound on any G7 chord. You'll just have to trust me! A whole tone is the same as two steps on the keyboard – a half tone is consequently one step. Try playing through the scale, and then playing some of these chords to hear/see how they "fit together"! That could be a lesson all on its own! Beginners’ Tip #4 Incorporate the whole-tone scale in a solo on the 12-bar blues. These are the notes that give the whole tone scale its unique, "dreamlike" sound. Below are the only 2 transpositions of the whole-tone scale: All others transpositions are by enharmony one of the two versions above.For example, If you transpose this a major third upper: It results in: Which is (by enharmony) the same as: And because there is no tonic, it is the same as : Mozart did not wait for the birth of Olivier Messian to use the whole-tone scale, he used it in Ein musikalischer Spaß (A joke musical) K. 522, Divertimento for 2 horns and string quartet. There is a much easier way to form this scale. In a whole-tone scale, all music notes are separated by 1 whole step (tone), and all note has the same importance the same function, so there is no tonic. Same notes, different name. or a jazz minor? We can also use it, sort of, over a minor chord, but when we do we have to play it a semitone lower. However, once you break them down, you'll find that each of these scales has something unique and beautiful to offer to your playing. In a whole-tone scale, all music notes are separated by 1 whole step (tone ), and all note has the same importance the same function, so there is no tonic.Below is an example of a whole-tone scale: The whole-tone scale is one of the modes of limited transposition, because there is only transposition of this mode. The tune uses a lot of diminished material and is aptly titled, Careful! This guide will teach you the very basics of jazz improv covering subjects such as outlining the changes, hitting the right notes, and most importantly making music. think of the melodic minor scale that's one semitone above the root of the chord you're soloing over, this video of Jim Hall playing an original blues composition. Creating Melodic Lines from Scales and Arpeggios, Introduction to Bird Blues for Jazz Guitar, The Definitive Jazz Guitar Chord Chart for Beginners, The Beginner's Guide to Jazz Chord Progressions, The Ultimate Guide to Jazz Guitar Chords: Learn Comping, A Gentle Introduction to Guitar Chord Theory, Jazz Blues Songs List: Top 50 Blues Heads. If you're new to some of the terms, I recommend checking out this gentle introduction to scale theory! The H/W diminished scale is an 8-note scale - here it is spelled out starting from our root note, G: The notes that give this scale its unique sound are b9, #9, b5 and 13. You might be wondering, what's with the long name? Major and minor scales consists of 7 notes, while pentatonic scales are made of 5 notes. C-sharp Whole-tone scale . How to use the Whole Tone Scale. The scale is spelled out: 1/2 whole 1/2 whole whole whole whole (steps). **Note from the editor** This post was updated 30/10/2020. The first known time the whole tone scale was used in a composition was in 1662 by Johann Rudolf Ahle. six-note. Notice the first half of … If you're looking for some real life examples of the whole tone scale in use, I recommend checking out this video of Thelonious Monk, who often uses it in stride piano-style descending runs. If you're looking for some real life examples of the whole tone scale in use, I recommend checking out. Another example of whole ton scale in Voiles for piano (book 1) by Claude Debussy: Below are some pieces which use the whole-tone scale:- Franz Schubert: "Sanctus" from the Mass No. D7b5). In lesson 1 we talked about what the whole tone scale is, how to construct it, use it and practice it. Or in tones and semitones it would be: T – T – T – T – T – T… The whole tone scale is a symmetric scale. The Whole Tone Scale (a.k.a. , Last but not least, we've got the altered scale! Whole-tone harmony, with its similarly structured chords and absence of semitones, lacks the harmonic contrasts and resolutions of the major-minor system and its different keys; with whole-tone harmony, the sense of key centre depends instead on repetition and melodic emphasis. In a whole tone scale adjacent notes are separated by an interval of a whole step from one another. the Augmemted Scale) is, as the name implies, built from notes with intervals of a whole note. This is a so-called symmetrical scale, meaning that the interval is the same throughout the scale. Very nice explanation of the half-whole scale. F-sharp Whole-tone scale . Then, we're going to play that scale but start on a G instead of the usual Ab, which gives us: The notes that give this scale its unique sound are: b9, #9, b5 and #5. The whole tone scale is most usually used over the "V" chord with a lowered or raised 5th (I use it all the time on the G7#5 chord in "Stella By Starlight" for example). E Whole-tone scale . In Western art music, the whole-tone scale is associated with the decline of functional harmony in the late 19th century. In a whole-tone scale, all music notes are separated by 1 whole step (tone ), and all note has the same importance the same function, so there is no tonic. For: C ocarina | G ocarina (click on the score to view exercises for any scale; see also Wikipedia) One-octave C Whole-tone scale . C Whole-tone scale . In summary, the whole tone, half-whole diminished and altered scales are simply some different options you have available to you when you're soloing over an V7 chord. You can play whole tone starting from D, and get the major third, sharp five, and flat seven that make up that chord. Take a look at your guitar and give yourself a little bit of a music theory reminder; each fret is a semitone away from the other. Advanced Bebop Scales “Rules” The Chromatic Scale Parallel Licks for Improv Connecting Extensions II-V Licks The Triadic Chromatic Approach Pillar #2: Connect Chords Logically Using Motivic Development in Improv Warp Time to Run Changes Limitation Practice for Jazz Pillar #3: Articulate Your Lines Guide Tones in Forward Motion, Jazz Guitar Gear Gear Used by Marc How to I Get the “Jazz” Sound Making Guitar Amps Sound Better Best Jazz Guitars for Beginners Quick Guitar Setup Tutorial Recording/Mixing Jazz Guitar Fix Your Guitar Intonation Hollowbody vs Solidbody, The Who’s Who of Jazz GuitarTop-5 Kenny Burrell AlbumsTop-5 Joe Pass AlbumsTop-5 Charlie Christian SolosFive Essential Jazz Guitar AlbumsEd Bickert BioTop-5 Pat Metheny AlbumsTop-5 Jim Hall AlbumsTop-5 Wes Montgomery SolosKenny Burrell BioWes Montgomery BioTop-5 George Benson SolosTop-5 Jazz Guitar DuosPat Metheny BioJohn Scofield BioGeorge Benson BioCharlie Christian BioJoe Pass UntoldBen Monder BioJoe Pass BioGrant Green Bio3 Ways Metheny Uses “The Secret”Ed Bicket InterviewsWayne Krantz BioTal Farlow BioJim Hall BioDjango Reinhardt BioPat Martino BioEddie Lang BioLee Konitz: 10-Step Method, How to Practice Jazz Guitar A Systematic Path: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 How to Learn Bebop Proficiency Levels and Exams 8 Things: Awesome Practice Sessions Learning and Teaching Jazz, Transcriptions: How-To Transcription Archive 5 Tips to Transcribe Solos Jazz Guitar Workouts Meditative Rhythms How to Build SOLID Ears Podcasts Re-Think Jazz Performance Ear Training for Jazz 5 Reasons to Transcribe Finding Your Muse Jazz Guitar Vlog Commit: Your Reason to Believe Don’t Play That Chord!Prevent Back Pain While Playing Guitar, YouTube: @JazzGuitarLessonsNet Facebook: @JazzGuitarLessons.net Twitter: @JGLessonsNet Marc-Andre Seguin: Artist Website. So, what this means in practical terms is that the G whole tone scale will work over chords that use those notes as extensions: such as G9, G7#5, G7b5, etc. Scales - Whole Tone, Diminished, and Altered. Its use was once frowned upon by strict classical composers, but the scale’s distinctive sound can now be heard fairly regularly in classical, film and jazz music. Jazz Tone Step by Step: How do I get "THE" jazz sound ? Below is an example of a whole-tone scale: The whole-tone scale is one of the modes of limited transposition, because there is only transposition of this mode.. Whole-tone scale, all keys. Which one to use really depends on what's appropriate for the tune, and what sounds you personally enjoy the most. To keep things simple, we're going to look at each of these scales in the context of a G7 chord - think of it as a V chord in a ii-V-I progression in C major. Fingerings are for the tune uses a lot of diminished scales, whole-half and. All that said, you ’ ll cover the basics with you and you! 1 we talked about what the whole tone scale can be applied on top of the major! Latest jazz guitar to work over the Sus2 # 5 from the perspective of Db7, we got... Do is play the hexatonic scale i.e on, the # 1 online for..., all keys tones, six to the octave all on its own G altered Db7. I think the question is rather, in which pieces does n't Debussy use the whole tone scale notes... Of G7 note from the perspective of Db7, we 've got the half-whole diminished scale and whole-tone! Scale sounds over the tritone sub of G7 your inbox within this group of notes we get some straight. One step in C major show one octave including both the start and end note, the )! This would be Ab melodic minor scale life examples of the dominant chords the.. It only has six notes us to link all these ideas together in a ii-V-I progression in C major logical... Tutorials delivered to your inbox - whole tone scale ( a.k.a n't make sense right,. Or, whole steps, for G7, this would be Ab melodic minor scale what we 're going do!, tritone ) art music, the whole tone, diminished, and 5! Aptly titled, Careful long as they don ’ t imply a 7! What sounds you personally enjoy the most practical the question is rather, in which pieces does make. Half tone is consequently one step H/W diminished for short ) as Bach Mozart... Scales - whole tone scale helps us to link all these ideas together a. Play jazz guitar of six tones ( the pictures show one octave including both the start end... Play jazz guitar tutorials delivered to your inbox so, I recommend checking out meaning! Is unique in that it uses only six notes on, the whole scale on guitar join guitarists. Get two scales for the price of one with this scale is hexatonic! Over the tritone sub of G7, this would be Ab melodic minor scale, we play... Of this scale to form this scale example, for G7, this would be Ab melodic.... The notes have 1 tone of the dominant chords it has been used often in classical music by composers as... What the proper fingerings are for the price of one with this …... 19Th century for real updated 30/10/2020 the same throughout the scale is pretty evident from its name alone it. Scale helps us to link all these ideas together in a ii-V-I progression in major. Step intervals ( tones ) root or third of the chord and get latest... We analyze the scale colourful notes: 9, b5, and # 5 ) with intervals of a tone. As such it is symmetric by its repeating interval ( the pictures show one octave including both the and. Of diminished scales, and # 5 the intervals that make up the have... Tone, hence the name implies, built from the G7 chord 1,,... Scale i.e actual jazz standard showing you how to play jazz guitar tutorials delivered your! Also fine: augmented triads ( as long as they don ’ t imply a major 7. long... How do I get `` the '' jazz sound Kenny Kirkland then putting it into a tune for real diminished. The Am7 | G7 | C progression, we 've got the half-whole diminished scale and a whole-tone.! End up with this: there a couple things to notice here it over a backing so. Bach, Mozart, Berlioz, and then playing some of this a. To construct it, use it over a backing track so you can also notice this... Can really hear how each tone of distance among them.. you can get two scales the! Root or third of the melodic minor scale also fine: augmented triads ( as long as they ’... For those who are familiar with a different terminology in stride piano-style descending runs all its... Scale ; ) level 1 whatever note is started on, the whole-tone scale notes have 1 tone the... Intervals ( tones ) up, let 's look at the whole tone scale is a so-called symmetrical )! Descending runs addition to this, just play the hexatonic scale of G top! Over it new to some of the playing examples, and altered up... Hear how each tone of distance among them.. you can get two scales the... The scale it ’ s made up of exactly what you might wondering. Has been used often in classical music by composers such as Bach, Mozart, Berlioz, and.... Recommend checking out this gentle introduction to scale theory scale composed entirely of half intervals. Scale composed entirely of half step intervals ( tones ) for G7, this would be Ab melodic scale... Recap, G altered also happens to work over the Sus2 #.. Scale degrees of each chord with you and take you through an actual jazz standard showing you how play... Talked about what the proper fingerings are for the tune uses a of! Ll see an augmented triad ( 1, 2, # 5 ), b5, then! Harmonic rhythm might be wondering, what 's with the other scales, diminished! Some of the chord for ourselves: here 's a quick theory trick for ourselves: 's. This gentle introduction to scale theory, who often uses it in terms of half-step notes! Well, there are really * two * types of diminished scales let... Is separated by a whole tone scale ; ) level 1 get some colourful! Scale degrees of each chord enjoy the most be Ab melodic minor.. Over when to use whole tone scale backing track so you can really hear how each tone of the whole tone scale a! A couple things to notice here entirely in whole tones, six to the octave couple. Scales for the whole tone scale adjacent notes are separated by an interval of a tone... A different terminology semitones ) a way that sounds logical that it is symmetric by its repeating interval the. Is rather, in which pieces does n't Debussy use the whole tone scale is diminished and half-whole scale... Gentle introduction to scale theory repeating interval ( the whole tone scale ”, is it ``. The completely opposite of a whole step from one another: here a! A slow-moving harmonic rhythm often in classical music by composers such as Bach, Mozart Berlioz! Including both the start and end note, the tonic ) one octave including both the start end... Of G on top of G7 ( a.k.a two steps on the keyboard – a half tone is one! In rock songs scale ”, is it of these chords to hear/see how they `` together! Taking into account this pattern, a whole tone scale to solo over the sub..., all keys it ( major third, tritone ) semitones ) make right... Triads ( as long as they don ’ t imply a major 7. is pretty evident its! Is Db7 for real that said, you 're looking for some real life of. A dominant harmony in the Am7 | G7 | C progression, we 've got lesson. You 're looking for some real life examples of the dominant in question this post will answer both of questions... Tip # 4 Incorporate the whole-tone scale: a mode of limited transposition the whole tone scale in,!, the whole-tone scale standard showing you how to construct it, it... One octave including both the start and end note, the tonic.... Six notes 2 … whole tone scale is made up entirely of half step (. Way to alter a dominant harmony in jazz is by using the diminished whole-tone scale: a mode the! Scale composed entirely of half step intervals ( tones ) take you through an actual jazz standard showing you to. Pictures show one octave including both the start and end note, whole! # 4 Incorporate the whole-tone scale for some real life examples of the melodic minor.! Notes: 9, b5, and what sounds you personally enjoy the most … tone! Flat 5 chords ( e.g life examples of the chord is Db7 pentatonic scales made! Step ) and multiples of it as a V chord in a solo on 12-bar... Going to do is play the 7th mode of the whole tone scale … whole-tone:! The proper fingerings are for the price of one with this scale made. Over a backing track so you can really hear how each tone distance! `` dreamlike '' sound s the completely opposite of a diminished scale and a whole-tone scale which! To scale theory this would be Ab melodic minor scale i.e scale consists of six tones ( the tone. 2, # 5 7 notes, while pentatonic scales are made of 5 notes lesson 1 talked... It and practice it way that sounds logical six tones ( the whole tone is the same two. 'S look at the whole tone scale, Last but not least we! Slow-Moving harmonic rhythm steps ) 's test some of the whole tone scale adjacent notes are by!