Whole Tone Scale

The Whole Tone scale is a 6-note scale formed by ascending in Major 2nds. There are, thus, only 2 whole-tone scales, C and C#. The harmonized scale consists of all Augmented chords and all of the notes of the scale are contained in the first 2 triads.

The whole tone scale is a captivating and enigmatic entity in the realm of music, offering a distinctive sound that has fascinated composers and improvisers for centuries. Constructed entirely of whole steps, this symmetrical scale lacks traditional tonal centering, resulting in an ethereal and ambiguous quality that lends itself to a variety of musical contexts.

One of the most striking features of the whole tone scale is its inherent sense of motion and instability. Without the presence of semitones, there are no leading tones to establish a strong sense of resolution, allowing melodic lines to float and meander freely. This characteristic makes the whole tone scale particularly well-suited for creating dreamlike and otherworldly atmospheres in compositions, as exemplified by the works of composers like Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel.

In addition to its use in classical music, the whole tone scale has found a prominent place in jazz and contemporary music. Jazz musicians often employ the whole tone scale to introduce tension and dissonance in their improvisations, using its ambiguous nature to explore alternative harmonic pathways and create moments of heightened drama and intensity.

The whole tone scale is a versatile and evocative tool in the musician’s toolkit, offering endless possibilities for expression and experimentation. Whether used to evoke the shimmering waters of an impressionist painting or to inject a sense of mystery into a jazz solo, the whole tone scale invites musicians to explore the outer reaches of tonality and embrace the beauty of ambiguity.

Often the whole tone scale is used over a V chord. Over a C7 chord you could use the C whole tone scale. The notes of the C whole tone scale are C, D, E ,F#, G#, and Bb. Thus, the chord tones of the whole note scale over a dominant chord are R, M2, M3, #4, #5 (b13) and b7. So the whole note scale would work over a &#5, 7b5, or b13 chord. The whole tone scale creates an ethereal sound but can also be very angular.

Good luck with System 12! I hope these exercises have been helpful to your musical journey. You can be fully confident that you now possess all of the needed skills to progress to become an excellent musician!

In a way these are simply the building materials to help you build your musical vocabulary. As we’ve said throughout these systems, it’s the application of them that matters most. But, they should give you all the needed understanding to progress on your musical journey!

Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of who you are to become as a musician! God bless you in your

pursuit of music and the joy it will bring to you and others!

Dan Shields