Diminished / Octatonic Scale


The Diminished/Octatonic scale, also known as the diminished scale, it is a musical scale that consists of eight notes. It is characterized by alternating whole step (Tone) and half-steps (Semitone) pattern.   

There are two types of Diminshed/Octatonic scale pattern: the half-whole (Semitone - Tone) and the whole-half (Tone - Semitone).      

The diminished scale is based on diminished 7th chord made up of a root note, a minor third, a diminished fifth, and a diminished seventh.   In the example below, I have chosen to use the notes B, D, F Ab, these four notes form a diminished 7th chords derived from  G7b9 which is the dominant chord to C (applicable to both Major or Minor tonality).       



You can use this scale pattern when you encounter a diminished 7th (dim 7th) chord.   By and large,  you would encounter dim 7th chord when it is used as a dominant chord.      

This scale is often used in jazz, classical music, and film music to create tension and dissonance. Its symmetrical nature makes it useful for creating complex harmonies and melodies, and it is often used to create a sense of unease or suspense in music.

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