Diminished Whole Tone Series

This scale has many names. Super Locrian, The Bartok Scale,The Altered Dominant Scale and Diminished Whole Tone which are all from the 7th Mode of Jazz Minor to name a few. It?s an under-rated scale. Many musicians don?t even know what it is. It has a very significiant function in that it is a stimulant of the music. Today its importance is more relevant for the modern jazz musician than ever before. Its transitional sound creates tension which enables a II V I to be more interesting. It?s all about the V chord among other things. I?ve put together some excercises in all the keys not unlike what David Baker did for the C Major Scale. Compiled here are some patterns to get one started in a direction to be expounded upon by the instrumentalist. Make up your own patterns. This is not a thesaurus, just a starter tool. If it?s not in your register, transpose. Every jazz musician should know about this scale. Certainly all the good ones do.

The scales with three names, Diminished-Whole Tone, Altered, or Super Locrian are out of the seventh mode of Jazz Minor. The scale can be notated in several different ways. What Mr.Wedge has done in order to help facilitate one to hear and develop the technique regarding this scale is to notate it in reference to the major. Take any major scale and reduce the second degree through the seventh degree by a half step. The result is a Diminished Whole Tone Scale. Now just rely on your short term memory and watch the accidentals and begin your studies. Malcolm Ball