The E diminished half–whole scale has 8 notes: E, F, G, G#, A#, B, C# and D. Its formula is 1 b2 #2 3 #4 5 6 b7 and its steps, in tones, are ½ – 1 – ½ – 1 – ½ – 1 – ½ – 1.
The half–whole diminished scale alternates a semitone and a tone: eight symmetrical notes, used in jazz over altered dominant chords.
E diminished half–whole
E F G G# A# B C# D · 1 b2 #2 3 #4 5 6 b7
Colored dots: notes of the scale, the root is the darkest.