Guitar Scale Logic
D# Diminished Guitar Scale in Drop C
Diminished scale notes, fretboard positions and guitar tabs for Drop C.
Scale Tablature
Position 1
D|---------------------------------------0--1--| A|---------------------------------2--3--------| F|---------------------0--1--3--4--------------| C|------------0--2--3--------------------------| G|---1--2--4-----------------------------------| C|3--------------------------------------------|
0-4 frets • five-fret position fragment • 15 notes
Theory & Context
Why This Shape Works
The D# Diminished scale uses D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A, B, B♯, C♯♯ and the formula 1 2 b3 4 b5 b6 6 7. In Drop C tuning, the open strings run D A F C G C from highest to lowest, so use this map rather than a Standard-tuning shape. Use the map to locate each D# root, then select a five-fret position to see its tablature. The chord suggestions use notes from this scale.
Diminished sounds tense, patterned and highly dramatic. Try it for transition runs, shred lines and diminished dominant colour. Drop C is C-G-C-F-A-D from low to high. Compared with Standard, the top five strings are a whole tone lower and the sixth string is two whole tones lower.
Sequence the repeating interval pattern and resolve the tension on a strong chord tone. In Drop C, learn the sixth-string notes separately before connecting them to the upper strings.
- D♯
- E♯
- F♯
- G♯
- A
- B
- B♯
- C♯♯
Suggested Chords
Works Well With This Scale
These chords contain notes from the selected scale.
- D♯dimdiminished
- E♯dimdiminished
- E♯m7b5minor 7 flat 5
- E♯7dominant 7
- E♯mminor
- E♯major
- E♯5power
- F♯dimdiminished
- G♯dimdiminished
- G♯m7b5minor 7 flat 5