Major Piano Scales

What is an Octatonic Scale?

An octatonic scale (also called diminished scale) consists of eight notes per octave, constructed using an alternating pattern of whole steps and half steps. There are two varieties:

• Half-Whole Octatonic: Beginning with a half step, then alternating (H-W-H-W-H-W-H-W) For example, starting from C: C, Db, Eb, E, F#, G, A, Bb, (and back to C)
• Whole-Half Octatonic: Beginning with a whole step, then alternating (W-H-W-H-W-H-W-H) For example, starting from C: C, D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, A, B, (and back to C)

What makes the octatonic scale distinctive is its perfect symmetry and its unique capacity to fit over multiple harmonic contexts. Due to its structure, there are only three possible octatonic scales (starting on C, C#, or D), with each one dividing the octave into equal parts.

Why Practice Octatonic Scales?

Practicing octatonic scales offers several significant benefits:

1. Jazz improvisation - Essential for navigating altered dominant harmonies
2. Contemporary vocabulary - Provides access to 20th-century classical sounds
3. Symmetrical awareness - Develops understanding of symmetrical patterns on the keyboard
4. Technical development - Cultivates familiarity with an unusual yet systematic fingering pattern

Famous Compositions Using Octatonic Scales

Many important pieces showcase the octatonic scale's distinctive character:

• "The Rite of Spring" by Igor Stravinsky (octatonic sections)
• Petrushka by Igor Stravinsky (the famous "Petrushka chord" derives from octatonic)
• L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird) by Stravinsky (extensive octatonic usage)
• "Isle of the Dead" by Sergei Rachmaninoff (octatonic passages)
• Constellation-Mirror by Olivier Messiaen (octatonic elements)
• Many jazz compositions by Thelonious Monk
• John Coltrane's later works including Meditations
• Béla Bartók's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta

The octatonic scale gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially through the works of Russian composers like Rimsky-Korsakov (who called it the "tone-semitone scale") and his student Stravinsky. Jazz musicians later adopted it as the "diminished scale," using it extensively for improvisation over dominant seventh chords.

For piano students, the octatonic scale presents a fascinating challenge in pattern recognition. Its regular alternation of intervals creates logical fingering patterns, though these differ from conventional diatonic scales. The half-whole diminished scale is particularly valuable in jazz contexts over dominant seventh chords with altered extensions.

Mastering octatonic scales will significantly expand your harmonic and melodic vocabulary, enabling you to create moments of tension, mystery, and tonal ambiguity. Whether exploring contemporary classical techniques, navigating jazz harmony, or seeking unusual colors for your own compositions, the octatonic scale provides a systematic yet highly expressive alternative to conventional scales.

Don’t forget that you can make scale practice more fun with TomScales ! Play alongside an orchestra or a band with TomScales. You can choose from several high-quality audio covers: Classical, Pop, Epic, Jazz and more! TomScales is designed with a progressive approach, starting at a beginner level and gradually increasing in difficulty. As you advance through the very easy, easy and intermediate levels, new scales are introduced, the tempo quickens, and scale variations become more complex.