Introduction
The Wholetone Scale, as the name implies, is made up exclusively from whole tones. Because of this there are only 2 distinct wholetone scales (i.e. scales with a unique collection notes) and then the various modes of those two scales:
- G Wholetone Scale = G A B C# D# F
- C Wholetone Scale = C D E F# G# A#
The chord derived from the Wholetone scale is the V7#5 chord, which can be extended to a V9#5#11.
- G Wholetone Chord = G7#5 (G B D# F)
- C Wholetone Chord = C7#5 (C E G# B♭)
But the scale can be used over any V7 Chord.
The Scale and/or Chord can be inserted over or in place of a V7 chord. For example:
| Chord Prog | Dm7 | G7 (or G7#5) | CMaj7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scales for Improvisation | D Dorian | G Wholetone | C Ionian |
Wholetone Scale Symmetry
This scale is a Symmetrical Scale. A symmetrical scale is one that equally divides the octave into fixed intervals. Put another way, it is a scale that is built out of repeating intervals.
- The intervals between the notes of a Major Scale are = T T st T T T st
- The intervals between the notes of a Wholetone Scale are = T T T T T T
Where T = Tone; and st = semitone
Notice the Wholetone scale is the same up as it is down (a kind of scalae palindrome), while the Major scale is not. This is what gives the scale it’s symmetry.
The interesting thing about symmetrical scales is that they are ‘non-functional’. That is, they don’t sound like they have a definitive root note – like the Major Scale. Because the Wholetone scale is constructed entirely from whole tones, each ‘mode’ of the scale sounds exactly the same as all the others.
- G Wholetone sounds like A Wholetone sounds like B Wholetone sounds like…etc.
- Whereas, C Major sounds very different to D Dorian which sounds very different to E Phrygian which sounds…etc.
This means the Wholetone scale sounds much more ambiguous and atonal compared to the Major Scale. We will learn much more about functionality in future lessons.
This Wholetone scale is quite simple and has no avoid notes. It also sounds a little exotic (because it is a non-functional symmetrical scale) but can be a little boring if overused (again, because it is a symmetrical scale).
No Avoid Notes and Interchangeability of Chords
Like the melodic minor scale, the Wholetone Scale does NOT have avoid notes. This means that all the chords are interchangeable. Notice that all the following chords have the same notes:
| Chord | F | A | C# | D# | G | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F9#5#11 | 1 | 3 | #5 | ♭7 | 9 | #11 |
| G9#5#11 | ♭7 | 9 | #11 | #5 | 1 | 3 |
| A9#5#11 | #5 | 1 | 3 | #11 | ♭7 | 9 |
| B9#5#11 | #11 | ♭7 | 9 | 3 | #5 | 1 |
| C#9#5#11 | 3 | #5 | 1 | 9 | #11 | ♭7 |
| D#9#5#11 | 9 | #11 | ♭7 | 1 | 3 | #5 |
So all these chords are equivalent.
Have a Listen to
The below songs make use of the Wholetone scale. Have a listen.
- Juju ~ Wayne Shorter
- In a Mist ~ Bix Beiderbecke
- Our Man Higgins ~ Lee Morgan
- One Down, One Up ~ John Coltrane
- Queer Notions ~ Fletcher Henderson
- Every Thelonious Monk improvisation
In the next lesson we learn about the Diminished Scale, which is another symmetrical scale.