F Six Tone Symmetric Guitar Scale

F Six Tone Symmetric Scale — Notes and Intervals

The F Six Tone Symmetric scale is a mathematical abstraction that divides the octave into six equal parts. On Guitar, its notes are F, Gb, A, Bb, C#, D. It lacks a tonic or a home note, making it perfect for modern composers who want to avoid traditional keys and explore total tonal suspension. Commonly used in Contemporary Classical, Experimental, Avant-Garde. Notable players include Bela Bartok, Olivier Messiaen. Use for atonal or polytonal composition. Not chord-specific — this is a tool for breaking free of traditional harmony.

Notes: F, Gb, A, Bb, C#, D

Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3M, 4P, 5A, 6M

Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 #5 6

Formula: H-WH-H-WH-H-WH

Number of notes: 6

Musical Character

Divides the octave into 6 mathematically equal parts — a scale without a home. Perfect for composers who want to intentionally avoid any tonal center.

Genres & Notable Artists

Genres: Contemporary Classical, Experimental, Avant-Garde

Notable players: Bela Bartok, Olivier Messiaen

How to Use the F Six Tone Symmetric Scale

Use for atonal or polytonal composition. Not chord-specific — this is a tool for breaking free of traditional harmony.

Origin & Background

A mathematical abstraction used by 20th-century experimental composers like Bartok and Messiaen.

How to Play F Six Tone Symmetric on Guitar

Place your index finger at fret 1 on the 6th (low E) to find your F root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is 8th fret on the A string.

The F Six Tone Symmetric scale contains both sharps and flats (1 sharp, 2 flats), which is common in altered and exotic scales. This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.

Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing

Begin by playing the F Six Tone Symmetric scale ascending and descending at 100 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (F-A, Gb-Bb) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.

Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on F to let the characteristic intervals of the Six Tone Symmetric scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in contemporary classical contexts.

Guitar Tips

Use hybrid picking (pick + fingers) when playing the F Six Tone Symmetric scale on guitar to access wider intervals and string skips that a pick alone cannot handle efficiently. Aim for a abstract quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.

Related Scales

• F Whole tone
• F Augmented
• F Chromatic

The F Six Tone Symmetric scale contains 6 notes (F, Gb, A, Bb, C#, D). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges. Practice ascending and descending from the root note to learn the sound of this scale.

CAGED Positions & Patterns for F Six Tone Symmetric

The F Six Tone Symmetric scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 6-note pentatonic scale, 2-notes-per-string patterns are the most ergonomic way to traverse the fretboard. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.

Explore F Six Tone Symmetric Further

• Harmonize the F Six Tone Symmetric scale — triads & 7th chords
• Browse chord progressions
• F Six Tone Symmetric on Ukulele
• F Six Tone Symmetric on Bass
• F Six Tone Symmetric on Piano

Explore F Six Tone Symmetric in Other Tunings

• F Six Tone Symmetric in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
• F Six Tone Symmetric in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
• F Six Tone Symmetric in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
• F Six Tone Symmetric in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
• F Six Tone Symmetric in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
• F Six Tone Symmetric in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
• F Six Tone Symmetric in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
• F Six Tone Symmetric in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
• F Six Tone Symmetric in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
• F Six Tone Symmetric in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
• F Six Tone Symmetric in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
• F Six Tone Symmetric in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
• F Six Tone Symmetric in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
• F Six Tone Symmetric in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)

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