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ENEN
Standard
Scales
Chords
A
Half Diminished
Frets: 0 - 24

Formula
Notes

M2-m2-M2-m2-M2-M2
A
B
C
D
E♭
F
G
B
G
D
A
F
C
E♭
F
1
A
B
2
G
D
F
C
G
3
E♭
B
4
A
C
G
D
A
5
F
E♭
6
B
D
A
B
7
C
G
E♭
F
C
8
B
9
D
A
F
C
G
D
10
E♭
E♭
11
B
G
D
A
12
F
C
E♭
F
13
A
B
14
G
D
F
C
G
15
E♭
B
16
A
C
G
D
A
17
F
E♭
18
B
D
A
B
19
C
G
E♭
F
C
20
B
21
D
A
F
C
G
D
22
E♭
E♭
23
B
G
D
A
24

Basic Scale Information

  • Name: Half Diminished
  • Type: Locrian scale with major sixth
  • Formula: 1 – ♭2 – ♭3 – 4 – ♭5 – 6 – ♭7
  • Relation with Major Scale: Sixth mode of the melodic minor scale.

Theoretical Aspects

  • Sound Character: Dark but stable, it evokes restrained tension, not completely resolved.
  • Typical Chord: m7♭5 (half-diminished)
  • Modal Context: Used in minor progressions as the II chord of a minor cadence (e.g., iim7♭5 – V7 – i).
  • Harmonic Use: Improvisation on m7♭5 chords or as a mode in dark modal contexts.

Musical Context

  1. Musical Styles: Jazz, Classical, Contemporary
  2. Songs using the scale:
    • Nardis - Miles Davis
    • Footprints - Wayne Shorter
    • Solar - Miles Davis
    • Naima - John Coltrane
  3. Evoked Atmosphere: Suspended, dramatic, fragile but elegant.

Chords in Scale