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

Formula
Notes

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