Symmetric Scales
What is a Symmetrical Scale?
Symmetric scales consists of repeated symmetric intervals. The octave is divided in equal parts. The four most important symmetric scales are :
The Chromatic Scale :
The octave is divided in 12 equal parts, it is formed by a succession of half-tones, there is only one chromatic scale, it contains 12 notes.
| C chromatic scale | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B |
The Whole Tone Scale :
The whole tone scale is an hexatonic scale, it contains six notes. The octave is divided into six equal parts formed by a serie of whole tones. There are only two whole tone scales.
| C whole tone scale | C | D | E | F# | G# | A# |
| Db whole tone scale | Db | Eb | F | G | A | B |
The Diminished Scales :
There are two modes depending on whether we start with a tone or a half tone and only three scales for each mode.
- The Whole half diminished scale (also called diminished scale) :
| C diminished scale | C | D | Eb | F | Gb | Ab | A | B |
| Formula | 1 | 9 | b3 | 11 | b5 | b13 or #5 | 13 | 7 |
- The half whole diminished scale (also dominant diminished scale) :
| C Dominant diminished scale | C | Db | D# | E | F# | G | A | Bb |
| Formula | 1 | b9 | #9 | 3 | #11 | 5 | 13 | b7 |
The Augmented Scale :
It is formed by musical cells that contains a minor third & a semi-tone.
| C augmented scale | C | D# | E | G | Ab | B |
| Formula | 1 | b3 | 3 | 5 | #5 or b13 | 7 |
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The Chromatic Scale | Guitar Lesson with Diagrams and Licks
The chromatic scale contains the twelve musical notes available on our western instruments. It is a symmetrical scale where every note is a half-step apart. Check out this guitar lesson with neck diagrams, scale charts, patterns and licks with tabs for a better understanding. -
Diminished Scales | Half-whole and whole-half | Guitar Lesson with Diagrams & Licks
The diminished scale can be divided into two modes called fully diminished or dominant diminished whether they start with a whole-tone or a half-tone. This jazz guitar lesson with guitar shapes, scale charts and jazz line will help you make the difference between these two diminished scales. -
The Whole Tone Scale | Jazz Guitar Lesson with Diagrams and Patterns
Guitar lesson with diagrams, formula charts and patterns about the symmetric whole tone scale. -
The Augmented Scale | Guitar Lesson with Diagrams and Exercises
The augmented scale is a symmetric scale rarely used in jazz music but a very interesting tool to spice up your jazz improvisation and expand your theoretical knowledge.