2

Motivic Modulation Through All Diminished Scales

For simplicity the diminished scales must be classified into three distinct
scales so that a point of reference is always available. Below is a list of rules
to follow in order to understand, navigate and compose using Diminished Scales.

1. The Diminished Scales will be listed as either D, G or C HW Diminished.

2. The 3 Diminshed Scales listed above will become our parent scales for
all reference to chords and scales in the Diminished System.

3.The above scales are spaced at the interval of a perfect fourth. All other
transpositions are derived from the above scales.

4.If you become confused about which diminished chord/scale you are using,
invert the chord or scale until the roolt of the chord/scale is either D,G or C

5.Remember, there are only three diminished scales, all others are
transpositions of D,G or C.

List of Intervals That Modulate Diminished Scale Motifs

A. Perfect 4th Modulations

œ b œ œ n œ bœ bœ nœ
& bœ bœ œ nœ œ bœ nœ b œ bœ œ n œ b œ n œ b œ
19 D HW Diminished Motif
G HW Diminished Motif C HW Diminished Motif
? w
P4th Transposition w P4 Transposition
ww w w

B. Whole Step Modulations

& bœ bœ œ nœ œ bœ nœ bœ bœ œ nœ bœ bœ nœ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ
23 D HW Diminished Motif C HW Diminished Motif G HW Diminished
? w w
ww w bw
 œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ
C. Major 3rd Modulation 3

& bœ bœ œ nœ œ bœ nœ œ œ œ #œ œ nœ #œ
27
D HW Diminished Motif C HW Diminished Motif G HW Diminished
?
ww # # ww b ww

D. Half Step Modulation

& bœ bœ œ nœ œ bœ nœ œ œ œ bœ bœ œ œ bœ œ œ nœ œ bœ nœ
31 D HW Diminished C HW Diminished Motif G HW Diminished Motif

?
b b ww
w ww
w
E: Mixed Interval Modulation-Whole Step Up Followed By P4th Up

œ œ b œ œ n œ œ bœ nœ
& bœ bœ œ nœ bœ nœ bœ œ œ nœ bœ nœ bœ ∑
35
D HW Diminished G HW Diminished D HW Diminished
? ww ∑
ww ww

F. Advanced Modulations: Minor 3 Up Followed By 1/2 Step Up Modulation

bœ bœ nœ œ
b œ
& bœ œ n œ œ b œ n œ b œ bœ œ n œ œ œ œ #œ œ nœ #œ bœ bœ œ nœ bœ nœ
1/2 Step
39
D HW Diminished -3rd Modulation C HW Diminished -3rd Modulation
Modulation
? ww ww
ww # # ww

œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ
&
43
G HW Diminished
? w
bw