The altered scale on guitar
The 7th mode of melodic minor. Jazz players use it over a dominant 7th chord for maximum tension just before it resolves.
A Altered
A1A#♭2C♭3C#3D#♯4F♭6G♭7
Formula: 1 ♭2 ♭3 3 ♯4 ♭6 ♭7 · Steps: H · W · H · W · W · W · W (W = whole step, H = half step) · 7 notes
Where it sits on the neck
Every A Altered note from the open strings to the 12th fret, standard tuning. Gold dots are the root. Above the 12th fret the pattern repeats.
On a phone, swipe the diagram sideways to see the whole neck.
Songs that use it
- No famous song lives in the altered scale. Jazz players use it for a few beats over a dominant 7th chord, right before it resolves.
In Fretdle
It's the daily board's scale on Sundays. The scale's notes are hidden on the board: you only see the roots, so knowing this pattern is the whole game.