Whole Tone Scale

Whole Tone Scale

The whole tone scale is an extremely altered dominant scale.  

It is comprised entirely of whole steps.  

Because of this, the scale degrees are virtually impossible to name. 

Furthermore, because the scale is symmetrical, any of the scale degrees could be the tonic. 

For example:

C whole tone scale = D whole tone = E whole tone =F# whole tone = G# whole tone = A# whole tone

This means that there are really only two whole tone scales. 

The C# whole tone scale, for example, will contain all of the other notes that were not found in the C whole tone scale.

This scale is best played over altered dominant chords and augmented chords.  

This is an extremely dissonant scale so don't be surprised to find that it's hard to use!

Jam Tracks:

1.  Ab whole tone - Ima7 - V7ALT

2.  B whole tone - Ima7 - V7ALT

3.  Db whole tone - Ima7 - V7ALT