Diminished Scales

The Diminished scale is a symmetrical 8 tone scale known as an octatonic scale. The diminished scale is often used in Jazz, fusion and Metal styles music and has a unique sound.

Because the Diminished scale is a symmetrical scale consisting of 8 tones, the musical alphabet can only be split 3 different ways to make 3 distinct diminished scales. So a diminished scale from any root note has the same notes as 3 other keys. For example a D diminished scale has the same notes as a B, a G#, and an F diminished scale. This means that there are 3 groups of 4 different keys that share the exact same notes!

Diminished scale generator

The app below allows you to view the Diminished scale in all keys in just about any tuning you like. Make sure JavaScript is enabled in your browser.

Select a tuning (default is standard tuning) then select a key.

Switch to:
7 string guitar
6 string guitar
Bass Guitar

Diminished scale keys

Select a key - keys that share the same notes are colored the same.

C | D | E | F | G |A |B |G# |Bb | Db | Eb | Gb |