Diminished Scale Secrets Part 1

yt_logo_rgb_light CLICK SUBSCRIBE!

Before we look at the diminished scale it is worth noting that we can find  two different modes within the scale:

diminished, scale,
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

To begin with we will use the E diminished scale as it is an easy guitar fingering.

diminished, scale, concepts
Diminished Scale Concepts

From the diminished scale we can use Dominant chords in Minor 3rds.

 

diminished, scale, jazz ,improvisation composition, music, theory, lesson, tab, notation,
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

Tetrachord line ascending in Minor 3rds played over a C7 dominant chord.

diminished, scale, jazz ,improv, composition, example , tab
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

Tetrachord Root flat 5 over C7 Dominant Chord

diminished, scale, jazz ,improvisation composition, music, theory, lesson, tab, notation,
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

Below is a fingering that is from a John Mclaughlin sequence using the E diminished scale and is [To Me] a very comfortable fingering. The key is to connect each 4 not grouping [Tetrachord] with the 1s finger. This way the scale flows really easily and comfortably.

John, Mclaughlin, Jazz, guitar, diminished, scale , lick tab, music, notation
E Diminished Scale Jazz/Fusion music theory and composition lesson John Mclaughlin Style

C DIMINISHED SCALE:

diminished, scale, jazz ,improvisation composition, music, theory, lesson, tab, notation,
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

From C diminished scale we go up in minor 3rds with 7#9’s

diminished, scale, jazz ,improvisation composition, music, theory, lesson, tab, notation,
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

Here we Employ Minor 7ths in minor 3rds

diminished, scale, jazz ,improvisation composition, music, theory, lesson, tab, notation,
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

Next we employ Dominant 7ths in Minor 3rds

diminished, scale, jazz ,improvisation composition, music, theory, lesson, tab, notation,
E Diminished Scale Jazz/Fusion music theory and composition lesson
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

In this example we employ Slash Chords

diminished, scale, jazz ,improvisation composition, music, theory, lesson, tab, notation,
E Diminished Scale Jazz/Fusion music theory and composition lesson
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

To finish with we have some more chord ideas but this time from the g sharp diminished scale.

diminished, scale, jazz ,improvisation composition, music, theory, lesson, tab, notation,
Diminished Scale Jazz Improvisation and Fusion music theory lesson
E Diminished Scale Jazz/Fusion music theory and composition lesson

THE 13 FLAT 9 dominant chord

This is the common “Altered” dominant for this scale.

Below is a John Mclaughlin minor 7 flat 5 to a 13 flat 9 This has a masterful and great original fusion sound to it that avoids the predictable diminished cliche

diminished, scale, jazz ,improvisation composition, music, theory, lesson, tab, notation,
E Diminished Scale Jazz/Fusion music theory and composition lesson
Diminished Scale Jazz and Compositions Concepts

 

IF THIS LESSON WAS OF USE TO YOU THEN PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO US BELOW ON YOUTUBE, THANKS!

Diminished scale for jazz Improvisation licks and application

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.

the diminished scale descending in minor 3rds jazz improvisation

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

Guitar  diminished scale descending in minor 3rds in jazz improv

diminished lick number 2

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

diminished scale jazz improvisation lick descending in minor 3rds

Guitar Tablature for the above diminished scale jazz lick

Guitar diminished scale jazz improvisation 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.

diminished scale jazz cliche lick in minor 3rds

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

Guitar  diminished scale jazz lick descending in minor 3rds

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.

diminished scale ascending in minor 3rds

Guitar tablature and notion of the above diminished scale jazz lick

Guitar diminished scale ascending in minor 3rds

Thanks for reading! If this Blog was of interest to you then please subscribe to our youtube channel below,

yt_logo_rgb_light CLICK SUBSCRIBE!