FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

I was hoping someone could provide a good guitar exercise in using the diminished scale for playing 'outside the ear'? I'm looking for straight forward exercises/explanations to practice and learn when and how to play 'outside' using the diminished scale. I'd like to integrate it in my jazz and rock playing to occasionally spice things up and for something different.

Answer:

The F whole-half diminished scale is: F G Ab Bb Cb Db D E F Starting the same pitch collection on Ab, Cb or D will give you the same type of whole step - half step pattern. This scale is very closely related to Fdim7, Abdim7, Bdim7 and Ddim7. The scale contains the 4 chord tones of each of those chords as well as tension 9, 11, b13 and maj 7. There are no avoid notes in these chord-scale relationships. All 8 scale tones fit the chord either as chord tones or as available tensions. Starting the same pitch collection on G, Bb, Db or E you will get a half step - whole step pattern. G Ab Bb B C# D E F G This scale is very closely related to G7, Bb7, Db7 and E7. The scale contains the 4 chord tones of each of those chords as well as tensions b9, #9, #11, and 13. There are no avoid notes in these chord-scale relationships. All 8 scale tones fit the chord either as chord tones or as available tensions. One of the things this means is that if you are really playing on G7 and you outline any of the other dim7 or dom7 chords listed above it will fill fit, at least vertically it will. The same holds true for any of the other chords too. It's sort of like G7, Bb7, Db7, E7, Fdim7, Abdim7, Bdim7 and Ddim7 are all the same chord. Within this scale you will also find the notes of all of the following chords, any one of which can be outlined/superimposed over G7: G, Bb, Db, E Gm, Bbm, Dbm, Em Gm7, Bbm7, Dbm7, Em7 Gdim, Bbdim, Dbdim, Edim Gm7b5, Bbm7b5, Dbm7b5, Em7b5 Fdim, Abdim, Cbdim, Ddim These sounds are not really outside but they can be somewhat exotic depending on the key, the context, and other factors like taste and experience. Where the dim scale can lead to actual outside playing is when you start making other associations with the chords above.