Fretify Logo
ENEN
Standard
Scales
Chords
C
Half Diminished
Frets: 0 - 24

Formula
Notes

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