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

Formula
Notes

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