How to Play G Diminished Scale on Guitar

What is the Diminished Scale?

The diminished scale is an 8-tone scale instead of 7 like the major scale, linked here to my blog pentatonic-scale-plus-two-equals-major-scale. One of the notes will have to be repeated, for example, 1, 2, b3, 4, b5, #5, 6, 7.

This means the following notes for a G diminished scale would be, G, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb, and F#.

When spelling the basic diminished triad, it is spelled 1, b3, and b5. With the full diminished chord spelled 1, b3, b5, bb7.

Double flat 7 is Fb. Enharmonically it is an E note for simplicity.

Spelling out the formula for a Diminished chord is 1, b3, b5, bb7, not 1, b3, b5, 6, which would give you the same notes.

Pattern for G Diminished

Pattern for G Diminished Scale
Pattern for G Diminished Scale

What it Looks Like on Guitar

Notice that it starts with a whole step followed by a half step.

Also if you play two diminished chords a whole step apart, it will give you all of the notes of a diminished scale.

Another Version

This scale can also start with the half step followed by a whole step. This will give you different functions over chords.

For example 1, b2, b3, 3, #4, 5, 6, b7.

Notice that this will perfectly fit a Dominant 7th chord, 1, 3, 5, b7.

To do this with the G diminished scale from our picture above, play an F#7 chord at fret 2. Just add the extra note on the 2nd fret sixth string and follow the rest of the scale for a 1/2, whole-step F# diminished scale.

Other tones give you a b2 which is the same as b9, a b3, and a raised 4th or #11 as in a Lydian sound.

It is Symmetrical

Playing the Diminished chords, arpeggio, and scale can all be repeated every 4 frets. These notes will be the same, they get arranged in a different order.

G Diminished chord root on 6th string
G Diminished chord root on 6th string
G Diminished chord root on 5th string
G Diminished chord root on 5th string
G Diminished shortened Arpeggio
G Diminished shortened Arpeggio
G Diminished Arpeggio
G Diminished Arpeggio

In Closing

Have fun with this scale. Taking an idea and repeating it every four frets can give you a different sound instead of just playing in one position. It is useful for getting around the guitar neck, for example, playing higher on the neck.

Try a combination of hammer-ons and pull-offs, sweep pick it, etc.

For more info check out this external link to Wikipedia on the Octatonic scale (another name for the diminished scale).

Until next time, have fun practicing!