What scale is this?

[GarretGraves]

I wanna learn this scale:

@2:09. The ascending notes.

I've heard this scale or something like it in a lot of music and I was wondering if anyone would be able to type it out somehow (asking a lot i know) or maybe link me to a piece of sheet music or something that has this particular scale. I've tried learning it by ear but I can't seem to get it right. I don't care what key it's written.

That is if what I'm asking for is even possible. I'd greatly appreciate it though.

[zircon]

I'm not sure that was really a scale. It sounded kinda like:

Db Eb E F# G A Bb C

But they added in extra tones. Just solo over any minor scale and add a tritone and it will sound something like that.

[LuIzA]

C# D# E F# G A Bb C

it's called the "whole-half scale" on guitar books/guitar pro and what not. sounds cool over diminished chords and stuff.

[GarretGraves]

Thanks guys. I got a starting point. now i just gotta add those extra notes somehow.

[Skyline Drop]

Classical players call it an "octatonic scale" since it's eight notes in total. Jazz players refer to it as a "diminished scale," which makes considerably more sense considering its harmonic function, which, as was said previously, typically involves diminished chords.

[prophetik music]

damn, i was late.

it's an octatonic scale, pretty clearly, and it's refered to as the "3 4" octatonic scale. there are three scales - 1 2 (root is C#, starts with a half-step), 2 3 (root is C and starts with a whole-step), and 3 4 (root is C#, starts with a whole step)- depending on whether the scale starts on C or C# (eventually, you have to wrap it around until you get a root) and the absolute pitches of the second and third notes. that is, if i remember my post-tonal theory well enough. so, for example, this 3 4 scale would be written as C# D# E F# G A Bb C C#. an interesting note about octatonic - it's the second most widely-used scale that requires the use of both flats and sharps in the same scale, with harmonic minor scales being the most widely-used.

as siriusbeatz said, it's basically a scale that can be used over diminished chords (like the ii0 in a ii0 V7 i progression, 2-5-1 in minor). the term octatonic can technically be used with any scale that's based around eight notes plus the octave, so even a major scale with both minor and major 7ths would be octatonic. the tonality created by a whole-half scale, however, is refered to as octatonic exclusively.

the scale itself is finding a lot more usage in modern tonal composition, however, as it allows for a more complex-sounding scalar figure than a traditional major or minor scale. unlike traditional seven-note scales, it also allows for two beats of sixteenth notes in a run with the scale ending on the top note, as opposed to the septuplet that is often used for the same figure with major or minor scales.