A Whole Tone Scale
The A Whole Tone Scale has an Augmented quality due to its Major Third C♯ and Augmented Fifth E♯. The Whole Tone Scale, like A Whole Tone, has a whole tone interval between each note and as a result lacks any definitive tonality. The A Whole Tone Scale is classified as a hexatonic scale as it has six notes, A, B, C♯, D♯, E♯, G.
Below you will find the A Whole Tone Scale notes, notation, patterns, degrees, intervals and more. You can also opt to see the A Whole Tone Scale on your preferred instrument.
Notes Ascending
A, B, C♯, D♯, E♯, G, A
Notes Descending
A, G, E♯, D♯, C♯, B, A
Pattern Ascending
T, T, T, T, T, T
S = Semitone, T = Tone (2 Semitones)
Pattern Descending
T, T, T, T, T, T
S = Semitone, T = Tone (2 Semitones)
Degrees Ascending
| Note | Number | Name |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | Tonic |
| B | 2 | Supertonic |
| C♯ | 3 | Mediant |
| D♯ | ♯4 | Subdominant |
| E♯ | ♯5 | Dominant |
| G | ♭7 | Subtonic |
| A | 8 | Tonic (Octave) |
Degrees Descending
| Note | Number | Name |
|---|---|---|
| A | 8 | Tonic (Octave) |
| G | ♭7 | Subtonic |
| E♯ | ♯5 | Dominant |
| D♯ | ♯4 | Subdominant |
| C♯ | 3 | Mediant |
| B | 2 | Supertonic |
| A | 1 | Tonic |
Intervals Ascending
| Notes | Semitones | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| A > A | 0 | Perfect Unison (P1) |
| A > B | 2 | Major 2nd (M2) |
| A > C♯ | 4 | Major 3rd (M3) |
| A > D♯ | 6 | Tritone |
| A > E♯ | 8 | minor 6th (m6) |
| A > G | 10 | minor 7th (m7) |
| A > A | 12 | Perfect Octave (P8) |
Intervals Descending
| Notes | Semitones | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| A > A | 0 | Perfect Unison (P1) |
| A > G | 2 | Major 2nd (M2) |
| A > E♯ | 4 | Major 3rd (M3) |
| A > D♯ | 6 | Tritone |
| A > C♯ | 8 | minor 6th (m6) |
| A > B | 10 | minor 7th (m7) |
| A > A | 12 | Perfect Octave (P8) |
Chords related to A Whole Tone Scale
Related Triads
These chords have been built using the notes of the A Whole Tone Scale. The chords are in degree order and shown in Roman numerals (lowercase = minor/diminished, uppercase = Major/Augmented).
I+ Chord - A Augmented
II+ Chord - B Augmented
III+ Chord - C♯ Augmented
♯IV+ Chord - D♯ Augmented
♯V+ Chord - E♯ Augmented
♭VII+ Chord - G Augmented
Learn to Play A Whole Tone Scale
If you want to learn what scales and modes are and much more, check out our free Fundamentals of Music Theory course. If you already know some of the basics, you can jump straight into the scales lesson.
