Whole-Tone Scale
A six-note scale built entirely from whole tones
Category
scales
Pronunciation
HOHL-tohn SKAIL
Origin
English
Length
83 words · 1 min read
About Whole-Tone Scale
The whole-tone scale divides the octave into six equal steps of two semitones each. Because every interval is the same, it has no leading note and no pull towards a tonic, creating a floating, dreamlike quality.
More scales terms
Pentatonic Scale
View all scalesterms →A five-note scale found in musical traditions worldwide
Harmonic Minor ScaleA minor scale with a raised seventh degree, creating a distinctive augmented second between the sixth and seventh notes.
Major ScaleA seven-note scale with the pattern tone–tone–semitone–tone–tone–tone–semitone
Octatonic ScaleAn eight-note scale built from alternating whole tones and semitones, widely used in late Romantic and modern music.
Melodic Minor ScaleA minor scale that raises both the sixth and seventh degrees when ascending, then reverts to natural minor when descending.
Antonyms
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v1 · 09/04/2026Browse all terms →