The most common concept for the diminished scale is to sequence or repeat a motif by a minor 3rd. Below is an example of this.

Below we see and hear “Tetrachords” repeated or sequenced descending with the minor 3rd interval creating a beautiful flowing jazz double timed improvised line.

Guitar Tablature and notation of the above diminished scale motif descending in minor 3rds.

diminished lick number 2

Below is another set of four note “Tetrachord” groupings descending in minor 3rds from the diminished scale.

Guitar Tablature for the above diminished scale jazz lick

DIMINISHED CLICHES FOR JAZZ IMPROVISATION

The next lick is a bit of a diminished cliche but it always works and is very useful when improvising in a jazz context.

Again, notice the descending minor 3rds and 4 note tetrachord groupings which is very common in jazz improvisation when doubling the time from 8ths into 16ths.

Guitar tab and notation for the above diminished cliche jazz improvisation lick

ascending minor 3rds diminished jazz lick

Lastly, we have a diminished scale idea/lick “Ascending” in minor 3rds. Again, a bit of a cliche but very useful for jazz improvisation.

Guitar tablature and notion of the above diminished scale jazz lick

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