B Altered Scale

4-string bass  ·  Mode VII mel.  ·  7 notes  ·  minor family

Notes

B
C
D
D♯
F
G
A

Solfège : Si – Do – Ré – Ré♯ – Fa – Sol – La

Interval Structure

B ½T C T D ½T D♯ T F T G T A B+oct. T

Scale Chords (triads)

DegreeChord (in B)Quality
diminished
ii Cm minor
iii Dm minor
IV+ D♯+ augmented
V F Major
VI G Major
vii° diminished

About this scale

The altered scale (mode VII of the melodic minor, or superlocrian) contains all altered tensions: b9, #9, b5, #5. It is the ultimate scale for V7alt→I resolutions in jazz. Bassists use it to create maximum tension before the resolution.

See fretboard positions, piano and arpeggios for B Altered in the interactive app.

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Same scale in other keys