Ultimate DIMINISHED SCALE Guitar Tutorial - How to Practice & Use the Diminished Scale on Guitar

In this diminished scale guitar lesson I explain the diminished scale, how it's used, and how to practice its scale patterns on guitar.
🎸 Get the diagrams - FREE Printable Parent Scales Pack PDF → bit.ly/3hfGTUx
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🔗 LINKS & LESSONS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
🎸 My website → www.soundguitarlessons.com/
🎸 See the diagrams from this video → www.soundguitarlessons.com/bl...
🎸 Full Playlist of This Series → • SERIES: Scale Types in...
🎸 Functional Harmony - Chord substitutions for songwriters → • Functional Harmony - C...
🎸 Quartal Harmony - all about quartal chords on guitar → • Quartal Harmony - all ...
🎸 23 Scales You Can Play Over Dominant 7th Chords (guitar scales demonstration) → • 23 Scales You Can Play...
🎸 Chord tone improvisation lesson #1: • CRITICAL Jazz Soloing ...
🎸 Chord tone improvisation lesson #2: • How to Start Soloing W...
🎸 Get the diagrams - FREE Printable Parent Scales Pack PDF → bit.ly/3hfGTUx
🎸 WATCH THIS NEXT (Recommended): The Most Mind Blowing Chord 🤯 How to use diminished chords | Guitar lesson on diminished 7th chords → • The Most Mind Blowing ...
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💬 LESSON DESCRIPTION:
The diminished scale, also called the octatonic scale, is widely used to create tension, change keys, or to just make music that sounds a bit odd.
The diminished scale is most often applied in classical music and jazz, but you'll hear it in film scores and occasionally in popular music.
When you're bored of your own playing, learning some diminished scale guitar patterns on the fretboard can help you break out of ruts and sound more interesting, modern, or experimental.
In this video, I'm going to show you exactly how to start working on the five diminished scale guitar shapes, as well as the next steps you can take to apply them on the guitar at an advanced level.
I hope you enjoyed this lesson about diminished scale guitar patterns and found it beneficial. Let me know what you thought in the comments.
Thanks! :)
- Jared
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🎸 Get the diagrams - FREE Printable Parent Scales Pack PDF → bit.ly/3hfGTUx
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⏱ VIDEO CONTENT OUTLINE (WITH TIMESTAMP LINKS):
0:00 - Intro
1:27 - Diminished scale video outline
2:37 - 1) Diminished scale defined
5:52 - 2) First practice steps
6:47 - 2a) A really cool diminished scale guitar lick
9:11 - 3) How & why the diminished scale is used in music
12:32 - 4) The five diminished scale guitar forms
14:17 - 4a) The root to root method
15:35 - 4b) Demonstrating the root to root method
16:50 - 4c) Playing non-linearly
18:25 - 5) Improvising with the diminished scale over chords
20:00 - 5a) Playing the tonic parent scale
22:08 - 5b) Playing the diminished scale on just two strings
23:03 - 5c) Playing the diminished scale on all six strings
24:53 - 5d) Applying the diminished scale to the V7 chord
26:13 - 5e) Tips for getting started
27:09 - Outro & free PDF
#diminished #scales #guitar

[@soundguitar]

🎸 Get the diagrams - FREE Printable Parent Scales Pack PDF → bit.ly/3hfGTUx

[@DjangoThunders]

Good lesson and free stuff? You Rock!

[@Mdjagg]

I didn't know what this was, but almost every song I've ever written has this dimensioned scale. Thanks for teaching what Ive been playing for a long time!

[@theukuleleclub]

As a music teacher I must commend these lessons - beautifully paced and totally accessible to all levels unlike many other creators with much larger followings - thank you Jared 🙂

[@soundguitar]

I'm glad you're liking the lessons. Thanks for your kind and supportive comment! :) 🙏

[@christophermitchum6829]

Don't forget...many more scales , intonations, literally limitless 💯💥🤟

[@christophermitchum6829]

Bro... keep the flame! Do that DIM, and definitely give Flatts & Scruggs a nod😎🎶✨!!!

[@Ncpinetree]

bro, you are hands down the best teacher of guitar/music theory i've ever come across. The way you explain and break down what many would consider complicated theory and make it easily comprehensible is a truly a gift i am glad you share with the world. i watch a video of yours almost every night trying to become better

[@ernestdenov3599]

Great tutorial on the diminished scale for those unfamiliar with it! I'm self taught and I figured out the modes, diminished, half/whole and whole tone scales before knowing what they were called. The diminished scale, having 8 notes and being completely symmetrical (the whole tone scale is also symmetrical but it only has 6 notes) is a topless/bottomless treasure trove of patterns you can come up with! Because it contains two fully diminished 7th chords, you can mix and match those arpeggios and create some wild stuff! That same scale also contains 4 major triads and 4 minor triads. A great example of the kinds of patterns you can use is this lick that Coltrane liked to play in the late '50s (often with blinding speed): Here it is: D, C, F, Eb, B, A, D, C, Ab, Gb, B, A, F, Eb, Ab, Gb. Try it, you'll like it! Besides, you kind of have to know these scales if you want to play jazz.

[@f33fifofum]

This is a fantastically helpful lesson. Thank you so much for this.

[@JS-nf1sn]

You are an amazing teacher (and player). This is gold, and the whole lesson is jammed with useful information. Thank you.

[@michaelandersson1904]

Great lesson!! Thank you!

[@YoshiTRoN1]

I love your videos. They are easy to understand, digestible and you show clearly how it can be applied practically. You are definitely in my top 5 of guitar teachers on KZbin

[@Makki_SDN]

wow this is great, my favorite thing about this is that you mention how this relates to other music theory concepts which helps me string things together, i have been stuck for the past couple of months on where to start with music theory because every video i watch sounds very foreign and confusing. thank you so much for this

[@dougrushworth3198]

I am so glad I checked your lesson out Jared I usually pass over Diminished scale lessons most of the ones I watched were just not friendly to a by ear self taught guitar player that wasn't so sure what I was playing was ok until you tube. This is so smooth and clear I believe I can learn from this lesson thank you brother and God bless

[@StuartwasDrinkell]

Absolutely brilliant lesson i went away and played around with this over the chords on my looper and im hooked! Thanks so much Jared really clearly explained and the historical context was brilliantly communicated. 🛎 and 👍 right here. Definitely my go to to for all things jazz. I usually play flamenco but my teacher said study jazz just because and he was so right.

[@superreality3823]

A huge thank you...I have been using your videos recently as I find they stretch my skills without making me dispirited. Today I decided to start to really understand Diminished Universe, and WOW this lesson has totally transformed my understanding of it (from a very low start!) and I actually nearly sound like I know what I am doing. Thanks Jared, you have made a real difference to my playing

[@onepro1234]

Awesome lesson Jared very helpful and informative as usual thanks for sharing.

[@shaneotis720]

Great video and very appreciated. You helped unlock something which had been perplexing me that I hadn't found explained in other tutorials on the use of diminished scales and that is how to use them over the V chord.

[@grinpick]

A lot of KZbin channels are trying to present guitar-playing content these days. Some are very good. I've benefited from watching them and using their ideas in my playing. This is the second time I've watched your channel and about half way through the thought occurred to me that I don't know of anybody doing it any better than you are. And I subscribed. Stay after it, man.

[@MrDrakenator]

Finally....I can stop teaching now! I can stream these videos to my students and take a nap.. Very well done..I'm impressed.. Thank you for your passion..

[@jmoorecareers]

Wow. I've got a ton of work to do, but this lesson totally makes sense. Thank you!

[@LooMinn]

☺ Just had a huge 'AHA moment' from your really cool diminished scale guitar lick @ 6'47". Thank You Jared !

[@joycegrove5602]

Really good lesson - thank you! And the tone of your Tele sounds beautiful!

[@grahamh7041]

Thank you so much - beautifully done ....quality !!😆

[@paullazarus790]

Stumbled onto this; what a great guide to the diminished scale! Thank you for doing this! It's demystified it a lot for me, I would try to throw it in once in a while but without much conviction or confidence, so unsurprisingly uninspiring results, but this video has pushed me to a much better understanding and what "should" follow is better and more musical use. Thanks again, will also check out your WATCH NEXT video.

[@YourCaliBos]

These are amazing videos , really appreciate you sharing your knowledge. Cheers BC

[@ZekeZaita]

Funny two weeks ago I said I was going to devote an entire week to nothing but diminished scales, runs ,patterns , shapes etc. I now realize I might need an entire year to actually get it under my fingers. I saw a great lesson on the triads that exist in the diminished scale . Very useful as well .

[@dat219]

You are an excellent teacher thank you .

[@benagen2954]

Great lesson mate, thanks for your toughtful teaching method.

[@DeGroove]

Great! Stumbled upon you channel, always looking for ways to learn the diminished sound. This just might be the perfect entry! Thanks a lot. Will check some more stuff on your channel. Like your approach!

[@AlbicelesteLeo]

Absolutely amazing!

[@nb4powerup]

This is great! Thanks for the lesson!

[@fernandobotello1190]

Brilliant Lesson. Thank you sir!

[@ghundmanful]

Enjoyed your lesson very much. Good job!

[@ahmaddjaswadi89]

Great lessons... Thank you very much 🙏

[@arrenlenau3077]

Love your shirt! Glad you're still doing these!!!

[@diegocasmo]

Thanks a lot for this tutorial! Super useful 👍

[@56davidwright]

Great stuff Jared. Thanks 👍😊

[@martinohling6120]

Jared you are a super good teacher. thanks for your lessons

[@evanhauth7493]

This video is really rad and well done. Its taken me a while to rap my mind around diminished scales. This video really articulates how to use the scale. Also so cool to point out which chords work with this wild scale, otherwise you are fumbling around in the dark.

[@soundguitar]

Right on! Glad it helped. Thanks for watching :)

[@tableken9143]

So rich teaching lesson .I learned a lot Every time I get better working your lesson s. Thank you a lot dude

[@rickgriego2844]

Great video.thank you.

[@jorgeleyton1474]

Amazing.. thanks Jared ... !!!

[@Javi271]

Great teaching , nice playing , i appreciate it😊

[@RicardoGordo]

Tremendous lesson! Thank you! And congratulations for your terrific tone!

[@soundguitar]

Thank you kindly!

[@joselevicanasenjo2171]

I never thought that diminished chords soundsd like this! awsome!

[@soundguitar]

haha, I know right?! Thanks for watching :)

[@GiulioCappelli]

loving this lesson

[@marcobrocks1490]

How great...thank you very much for this fantastic lesson. Greetings from nothern germany😊

[@rtrojko]

Great lesson, very useful and very methodical.

[@soundguitar]

Glad you liked it!

[@Marcnshae2011]

Great video, thank you!

[@GreyHorse019]

Excellent, Thank You 👏 🙏

[@capriceproduction5367]

Great ! Thanks a lot .

[@birajshrestha5036]

Best lesson ever♥️♥️♥️

[@lewisgoldberg1646]

Great lesson. Accessible, well paced, well explained

[@soundguitar]

Cheers, glad you liked it! :)

[@RogerFedora]

I'm only halfway through and I've already learned loads. Awesome lesson.

[@Ketsounet]

Thank you very much. You're good

[@papie5151]

Playing the chord changes on two strings has allowed me to voice lead. This lesson was huge for me! Great Ah ha moment.

[@meltv3399]

this is a really great lesson thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@marshallpaul8936]

YOU ARE VERY VERY GOOD MY MAN AND THANKS

[@georgearthurmantiri]

Thank you. Wonderful. Salute from Jakarta.

[@JonnyDGhent]

Thank you for this!!!!

[@soundguitar]

You're very welcome, thank YOU :)

[@nondeblah]

Instantly made sense of things that I've seen a thousand times before but not been able to apply.

[@peterszasz5176]

Thanks!

[@soundguitar]

Thanks so much! 🙏

[@gedofgont1006]

Absolutely brilliant lesson. So clearly explained and demonstrated. All my fears have suddenly DIMINISHED!

[@BrosJayNG]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@ziadmohammad2829]

Thanks man🙂

[@soundguitar]

Of course!

[@markgoodwin5306]

I think diminished might be my favorite sound. I like how tense, unsettling and depressing it can be. I thought about coming up with a minor blues just using minor, diminished and phrygian dominant. The more depressing the better haha.

[@pihermoso11]

Add harmonic minor scale to that lineup..

[@lpgoog]

Good teacher 👏

[@MELONenSURPRISE]

Well done man ..

[@ollie2011ify]

Brilliant

[@teachmeguitar4149]

I swear youre in my head. Ive been looking at diminished stuff this whole xmas break. Thanks Jared

[@jebbaynum5103]

Me too !!!!

[@ZekeZaita]

@@jebbaynum5103

[@ZekeZaita]

Me too

[@VictorNwabuko-xi8dr]

Very beautiful .

[@soundguitar]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@alfredbellanti3755]

Impro going from C Majj to C^dim sounds awesome.

[@ElyJaffeMusic]

awesome!

[@braddanielson7705]

Sorry for the previous comment.I just watched you chord video.I am still drinking out of the water hose,but it all makes a lot more sense.The diminished sound on the guitar is like Chinese arithmetic....For Me Thank You for your lessons!

[@taurushamilton2739]

💣lesson 🤘🏾👊🏾👏🏾👏🏾💯🔥🔥

[@llaullapanatic]

Bedankt

[@brendanokeefemusic-]

You da man man !

[@BenificiallMusic]

It’s like the mother clave scale 🙌🏽

[@mji1967]

Good lord. Thank you for this video

[@soundguitar]

You're very welcome

[@tamagotchidoctor5207]

Hi Jared. Thanks for a great lesson. There is one thing I'm not clear on though. Are the whole - half and the half- whole diminished scales interchangeable? Would a half- whole scale work the same for the examples you gave in the lesson?

[@Troy1g]

Jared do you have a chart of the half-step version? I am finding that in Blues and Rockabilly that version is used mostly.

[@kidpoker007]

Do you have vids on using the melodic minor/Altered scaled over Jazz standards and blues as well? thx

[@jimrunaway5060]

Honestly never thought the CAGED shapes could be useful for learning diminished scale. I was wrong; that’s super effective!

[@bobravenscraft5376]

Caged unrelated

[@peterwassenaar1]

Excellent lesson, thank you for sharing and teaching :)

[@jonathanngwenya8762]

Sweet

[@pascaljeanne8002]

guys lol ok now you have to remember all the positions ! ahaha ! i have my method to play that scale ! but the thing on this site with all the fingering lol i"m tired just before to do it !

[@phillipadams4693]

21:07 Amazing Phrasing

[@medupimpekelangmapitsa9093]

Hi Jarred. What kind of pic do u use to play. The size , thickness and name of it.

[@kentlindsaymusic]

I am lost in the nebulasness. haha great lesson!

[@winstonsmith8240]

It's a wicked scale. Combine it with Dorian/MM, the minor blues scale, some chromaticism and much fun can be had. You may end up sounding a bit like Pat Martino. ( We live in hope). 👍

[@joncollins7129]

You just named all of my favorite composers

[@soundguitar]

Nice! :) I love those composers as well. 🎶😍🎵

[@sparkx251]

Good info. I will revisit. Why is Johnny Cash's scarf wrapped around your tuners? Are you dampening harmonic ring -out or something? Just curious.

[@wordytoed9887]

15:08 Is this what you meant when you talked about the 3 Notes Per Scale pedagogy, in opposition to learning the "CAGED" system of things? Or am I entirely incorrect in drawing this connection here? Maybe you were distinguishing, in that former video about 3NPS, precisely and exclusively in learning the *major* scale. God bless

[@danielmonteiro9275]

Could nt the dm7 be used instead of playing c again?

[@ahallekatti]

Sir, wrt second point of practice, are you starting the guitar lick on the low E string with a half step from G, only to make it sound cool ? So the whole lick where it ends on F on the high E string is played through different strings and different scales. It does not pertain to any single scale, right ?

[@christophermitchum6829]

And try the Phrygian scale... cool beans 😎💯

[@furst2b12]

Ok, promise last time I will bother you about this. If I start H/W I get: flat 9, #9, 3, #11, 5, 6, flat 7. If I start W/H I get: 9, m3, 4, #11, #5, 6, maj7. I cannot wrap my mind around this. How can two scales be interchangeable that have, for ex. flat 9, #9 and the other natural 9? Can you switch mid stream from one to the other? Between the two all 12 tones are represented so it seems like you could play any note and it would work because it's in one of these interchangeable scales. Of course I've found that not be the case, or am I wrong? Really appreciate how you take the time to answer us struggling newbies.

[@mhouang333]

Moon light Sonata Dim alterate with Minor? 😛

[@StarDarkAshes]

So the half whole scale in the whole half scale in music are two different scales or two different perspectives? So say over the dominant seven you could play either the half whole scale or the whole half scale? I was thinking that you started on the root and went up a whole step then half, etc. But you can also start at the root and do a half step first then a whole then half, etc. ???

[@StarDarkAshes]

I think I got my answer. I think if you’re doing the half whole tone you can play that one over either a diminished chord or a diminished seventh chord. But the whole halftone seems like you can play it over many more chords. Is that correct?

[@furst2b12]

I'm confused. Are you saying, for ex. if I want to play cdim scale I can play either whole step/half step starting on C or half step/whole step starting on C?

[@soundguitar]

Yep! Exactly. If in doubt just work on whole-half. That's mostly what I use.

[@briggshome7012]

Hey Jared. An instructor in this format never knows at what point a student might get "stuck" and not be able to move ahead. I'm a fledgling, so I get stuck at elementary places. Often, a graphic of the fretboard has the lowest pitch string at the top, and just as often, it has the highest pitch string at the top. Suppose you made the line representing each string thicker, or thinner, to represent the actual gauge of the strings on the instrument. That way, the student can know instantly if your graphic is upside down, or right side up. I know it would help me, right now, to follow along. Thanks for your great vids!

[@davidmatela9868]

👍👍👍👍

[@sandrocavali9810]

Superb teacher! If this guy teaches me quantum physics I would be proficient in a week