Published:
2005-01-02
Updated:
2024-03-20

Learning Ukulele with Curt

Whole Tone Scale for `Ukulele - C Tuning

The "Whole Tone scale" is a symmetrical scale with an equal distance been each note or scale degree.

Author(s): Curt Sheller Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications Code: UL25

Main Category: Scales Main Instrument: Ukulele

Categories: Chords, Scales, Theory, Tuning, TmpPagyCatDebug

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2026-08-23

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Number of Pages: 14

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Whole Tone Scale for `Ukulele - C Tuning

The Whole Tone Scale scale is a symmetrical scale with an equal distance between each note or scale degree. Each scale degree is a whole step from the previous.

You only need two whole tone scales to cover all keys.

  • C D E F# G# A# C'
  • C# D# E# Fx Gx Ax C#' (Db Eb F G A B Bb`)

The whole tone be used over augmented triads and 7b5 and 7#5 chords.

Fingering

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With the Whole Tone's scale being a symmetrical scale, it's a good candidate for some set fingerings using a few of the fingering principles from the The Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering , fingering principles.

In the QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - WholeTone Scale you will see the Basic and Pass fingering principles used a lot with a slide thrown in at the end to get the last note, the octave.

QS1UKES-WHOLETONE-cover

More Whole Tone Scale for `Ukulele - C Tuning content below, continue exploring...


More Whole Tone Scale for `Ukulele - C Tuning


What IS a Scale?

A scale is simply a collection of pitches or notes, not really a "this is a Jazz scale", "this is a Blues" or "this is a Rock scale". It's how a scale is used that really matters, not its name.

Most music starts with a scale. The melody, chords, licks, and riffs all can be related back to a particular collection of notes, a.k., scale.

The Six Essential Scales ( in no particulate order ):

Essential Reference Scales

There are two scales that can be the memorized and other essential scales referenced from these two. These two scales are the Ionian/Major and Aeolian/Natural Minor scales. The Major and Natural Minor scales are traditional scales and common scales in all forms of contemporary music.

This lesson explores the Major and Natural Minor scales and their derivations.

QS1UKES-cover

QuickStart Scale and Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele

This lesson uses the same page format as the QuickStart Scale & Arpeggio Fingering series of books.

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele 3 volumes.
C, G, and D tuning. (QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele )

The QuickStart Scale Fingerings Vol 1 covers the Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Ionian scales.

Each scale is also available as an individual book. NOTE: the traditional name for each scale is shown in parentheses.

QS1UKES-BLUES-cover QS1UKES-PENTATONIC-cover QS1UKES-DORIAN-cover QS1UKES-MIXOLYDIAN-cover QS1UKES-AEOLIAN-cover QS1UKES-IONIAN-cover
art by Curt Sheller

End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

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