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Music Theory

Whole-Tone Scale

The whole-tone scale is made of six notes, each a whole step (UK: tone) from the next, dividing the octave into six equal steps. It is sometimes called the hexatonic scale, although that word can name any six-note scale. Its suspended, dreamlike sound made it famous in Impressionist music.

What is the whole-tone scale?

It is a symmetrical scale: since all its intervals are equal whole steps, it contains no half steps and therefore no leading tone (UK: leading note). With no note that "pulls" toward the tonic, the scale sounds floating and ambiguous, without a clear tonal center.

There are only two whole-tone scales

Because of its symmetry, there are only two different whole-tone scales; any other is one of these two starting on a different note:

ScaleNotes
C whole-toneC · D · E · F♯ · G♯ · A♯
C♯ whole-toneC♯ · D♯ · F · G · A · B
Whole-tone scale on C, with the accidentals written next to each note: C, D, E, F sharp, G sharp, A sharp, C.
Whole-tone scale from C: C D E F♯ G♯ A♯.

Sound and use

Augmented triads arise naturally from the whole-tone scale, and they share its suspended quality. Claude Debussy and the Impressionist composers used it to evoke dreamy atmospheres, water or mist; today it is common in film scores to suggest unreality or a dream.

The whole-tone scale in all keys

The whole-tone scale written from each of the 12 starting notes, with its correct spelling and its staff. The solfège names used in Spanish-, French- and Italian-speaking countries (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si) correspond to C, D, E, F, G, A, B.

Starting note123♯4♯5♯6
CCDEF♯G♯A♯
C♯C♯D♯E♯F𝄪G𝄪A𝄪
DDEF♯G♯A♯B♯
E♭E♭FGABC♯
EEF♯G♯A♯B♯C𝄪
FFGABC♯D♯
F♯F♯G♯A♯B♯C𝄪D𝄪
GGABC♯D♯E♯
A♭A♭B♭CDEF♯
AABC♯D♯E♯F𝄪
B♭B♭CDEF♯G♯
BBC♯D♯E♯F𝄪G𝄪

Staff for each starting note

Whole-tone scale on C, with the accidentals written next to each note: C, D, E, F sharp, G sharp, A sharp, C.
C
Whole-tone scale on C sharp, with the accidentals written next to each note: C sharp, D sharp, F, G, A, B, C sharp.
C♯
Whole-tone scale on D, with the accidentals written next to each note: D, E, F sharp, G sharp, A sharp, C, D.
D
Whole-tone scale on E flat, with the accidentals written next to each note: E flat, F, G, A, B, D flat, E flat.
E♭
Whole-tone scale on E, with the accidentals written next to each note: E, F sharp, G sharp, A sharp, C, D, E.
E
Whole-tone scale on F, with the accidentals written next to each note: F, G, A, B, C sharp, D sharp, F.
F
Whole-tone scale on F sharp, with the accidentals written next to each note: F sharp, G sharp, A sharp, C, D, E, F sharp.
F♯
Whole-tone scale on G, with the accidentals written next to each note: G, A, B, C sharp, D sharp, F, G.
G
Whole-tone scale on A flat, with the accidentals written next to each note: A flat, B flat, C, D, E, G flat, A flat.
A♭
Whole-tone scale on A, with the accidentals written next to each note: A, B, C sharp, D sharp, F, G, A.
A
Whole-tone scale on B flat, with the accidentals written next to each note: B flat, C, D, E, G flat, A flat, B flat.
B♭
Whole-tone scale on B, with the accidentals written next to each note: B, C sharp, D sharp, F, G, A, B.
B

Frequently Asked Questions

How many notes does the whole-tone scale have?
Six notes per octave, all a whole step apart. That is why it is also called the hexatonic scale (from the Greek "hexa", six).
How many whole-tone scales are there?
Only two different ones, because of its symmetry: the one starting on C (C D E F♯ G♯ A♯) and the one starting on C♯ (C♯ D♯ F G A B). Any other matches one of these two.
Why does it sound so "floating" or ambiguous?
Because it is made only of whole steps, it has no half steps and no leading tone, the note that normally pulls toward the tonic. Without that pull, the scale has no tonal center and sounds suspended.
Who used the whole-tone scale?
It is characteristic of musical Impressionism, above all of Claude Debussy. It also appears in jazz and in film scores to create dreamy or unreal atmospheres.