C# Altered Scale

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

Notes

C♯
D
E
E♯
G
A
B

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

Interval Structure

C♯ ½T D T E ½T E♯ T G T A T B C♯+oct. T

Scale Chords (triads)

DegreeChord (in C#)Quality
C♯° diminished
ii Dm minor
iii Em minor
IV+ E♯+ augmented
V G Major
VI A 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 for C# Altered in the interactive app.

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Same scale in other keys