What is the primary characteristic of a whole tone scale?

The primary characteristic of a whole tone scale is that it consists entirely of whole tones. This scale is built by sequentially stacking whole steps, which gives it a unique and distinctive sound. The absence of half steps in a whole tone scale means there is no sense of traditional tension and resolution typically found in scales that include them, such as the major or minor scales.

This lack of half steps results in a simplified and somewhat ambiguous tonal quality, contributing to the ethereal or dreamy effect often associated with whole tone music. Since it is made up solely of whole tones, the scale does not contain any dominant or leading tones, nor does it adhere to the more conventional melodic contours found in other types of scales.