The Guitar Source

Part 2 - Melody

This scale contains a flat 3^rd note (minor 3^rd), a flat 5^th note, and a double flat 7^th note (compared to the major scale), so the step pattern is:

Fingering for Root Note on 5^th String:

This pattern can be used when the root note of the diminished scale falls anywhere on the 5^th string.

Fingering for Root Note on 6^th String:

This pattern can be used when the root note of the diminished scale falls anywhere on the 6^th string.

This is a useful scale to know when changing keys in lead work. The diminished scale has a unique property in that the root, ^b3rd, ^b5th and ^bb7th will share the same notes across the four keys that these notes contain, for example:

Therefore only 3 diminished scales are needed to cover all twelve keys.