Whole Tone Scale

The whole tone scale is a neat little scale that has a very distinct sound. It's pretty easy to understand, it's a scale consisting of only whole steps. Since there are 12 notes in music, playing every other note results in only 2 whole tone scales as seen here.

whole tone scale, scales, whole step

Note that you can start from any note in the scale and it will sound pretty much the same. The scale sounds like something from outer space or in an old science fiction movie.

I usually apply the scale on two types of dominant chords, a dom7#11 or a dom7b13 chord. If it is C7#11 or a C7b13 I would play a WT scale starting on C and either go up or down or zigzag.


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