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

NoteNumberName
A1Tonic
B2Supertonic
C♯3Mediant
D♯♯4Subdominant
E♯♯5Dominant
G7Subtonic
A8Tonic (Octave)

Degrees Descending

NoteNumberName
A8Tonic (Octave)
G7Subtonic
E♯♯5Dominant
D♯♯4Subdominant
C♯3Mediant
B2Supertonic
A1Tonic

Intervals Ascending

NotesSemitonesInterval
A > A0Perfect Unison (P1)
A > B2Major 2nd (M2)
A > C♯4Major 3rd (M3)
A > D♯6Tritone
A > E♯8minor 6th (m6)
A > G10minor 7th (m7)
A > A12Perfect Octave (P8)

Intervals Descending

NotesSemitonesInterval
A > A0Perfect Unison (P1)
A > G2Major 2nd (M2)
A > E♯4Major 3rd (M3)
A > D♯6Tritone
A > C♯8minor 6th (m6)
A > B10minor 7th (m7)
A > A12Perfect 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

Instrument View

See A Whole Tone Scale on

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.

Learn more about Music Theory

More to learn