Modes Of The D HW Diminished Scale: As Viewed By Ashby Anderson.

(Excerpted from the 48 Modes of the Diminished Scale By Ashby Anderson)

Example 1 Example 2
Eb sus4#5M7
DPhryg. EbsusM7b5
œœœ œœœ b œœœ # n œœœ œœœ b n œœœ œœœ # œœœœ b œœœœ ∑ Œ
# b œœœœ b n œœœœœ b n b œœœœ
D-7 D‐7b5 D7 D7b5 D7b9
Œ
EboM7
b
12
Do7
b œœ œ œ œ bœ œ œ
Eb-M7#5 Ebo7

D HW DIMINISHED Mode 1 Chord Qualities D HW DIMISHED Mode 2 Chord Qualities

Example 1 and 2 above demonstrate possible chord qualities for Mode 1 and 2 of the D (HW)
Diminished Scale.Since all qualities of the scale will repeat at minor 3rd intervals and are
equivalent to modes 1,3,5 and 7 or modes2,4,6 and 8 of this scale, only the notation for modes
1 and modes 2 of the scale are presented for the sake of brevity. Simply transpose the chord
qualities to F, Ab and B for modes 3,5 and7 and to Gb, A and C for mode 4,6 and 8.

œœœ b œœ b œœœ n n œœœ b œœœ b n œœœœœ b b ∫ œœœœ Œ 45 b b œœœœ ∫ n œœœœ œœœœ n œœœœ ∫ b œœœœ
œ œ b œ F7b9 Fo7
b œœ b œœ
17 GbsusM7 b5
F7 GboM7

F Phryg. F-7 F-7b5 F7b5 Gb sus4#5M7 Gb-M7#5 Gbo7

b b œœœ Ab-7b5
b œ
œ ∫ œ
œ b œ
œ ∫ b œ
œ b œ
œ ∫ ∫ œœœ 5 ∫ b œœœ ∫ b œœœ œœœ n œœœ ∫ b œœœ
b œ œ n œ œ œ b
Abo7 AoM7
b ∫ œœ œ œ œ b œ ∫ œœ œ Œ 4 ∫ œ œ œ œ œ
17
Ao7

Ab Phryg. Ab-7 Ab7b5 A sus4#5M7 AsusM7 b5

Ab7 Ab7b9
A-M7#5

b b b ∫b œœœ∫œœ∫ œœœœ ∫ œœœœ b b œœœœ b ∫ ∫b œœœœ ∫ b ∫œœœœœ∫ b ∫ œœœœ Œ 45 ∫ b ∫b œœœœ ∫ b œœœœ œœœœ n œœœœ∫ ∫ œœœœ
B-7b5 CoM7 CsusM7b5

B-7 B7 C07
BPhryg. B7b5 B7b9 Bo7 Csus4#5M7 C-M7#5

Please note that there are only 3 half Step wholestep diminished scales D HW Diminished, G
HW Diminished and C HW Diminished. Those whose mental orientation prefer the Whole Step
Half Step Diminished Scale can view the above as CWH Diminished, F WH Diminished and Bb
WH Diminished. ALL OTHER DIMINISHED SCALES ARE A TRANSPOSITION OF THE
ABOVE SCALES

This scale is a very universal sonority that implies a separate but complimentary approach to the

c
stardard way of perceiving chords and modes within the Western Tonal System. The thing to
remember is that when you play a minor chord or some of the other qualities listed above, there
is an appropriate diminished scale that agrees with that chord. Basically 3 scales are covering
many chord qualities. 12 have been listed above the qualities repeat at minor third intervals.
Based on the above examples each diminished scales covers 48 chords times 3 scales equals 144
chords. This is a very useful and dynamic scale!

Example outlined here are just that - examples. Other chords are possible as well as a myriad of
other voicings and extentions. Use these examples to jumpstart your own personal creativity.