The altered scale gives you several tension notes to use over an altered dominant 7 chord before resolving into the next chord.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how the altered scale is built, play it across the fretboard, and use it to create tension and resolution in a minor-key progression.
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Start with one altered dominant 7 chord and find its altered scale by using melodic minor a half step above. Then create a short phrase that uses an altered tension before resolving into a chord tone of the next chord.
What is the altered scale?
The altered scale contains seven notes. One way to write the formula is 1, b2, b3, 3, b5, b6, b7.
When using these notes over a dominant 7 chord, you’ll often hear the altered notes described as b9, #9, b5 or #11, and b13. The 1, 3, and b7 give you the basic dominant 7 sound, while the altered notes create extra tension.
The easiest way to find an altered scale is to play melodic minor one half step above the altered-scale root.
For example, B altered uses the notes of C melodic minor, starting from B: B, C, D, Eb, F, G, A.
Altered scale formula
From the root to the octave, the interval pattern is half, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, whole.
Try this: Choose one dominant root, then move up one fret and play melodic minor from that note. Return to the original root and hear those same notes as the altered scale.
Altered scale examples
The examples below show the altered scale from several roots. Start with one key and use the remaining examples as references when you want to transpose the idea.
A altered scale example
G altered scale example
E altered scale example
Altered scale chart in all 12 keys
Use this chart as a reference when you need another altered scale. For Roadmap practice, focus on one root and the melodic-minor-half-step shortcut first.
| Altered scale | 1 | b2 | b3 | 3 | b5 | b6 | b7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C altered scale | C | Db | Eb | E | Gb | Ab | Bb |
| D altered scale | D | Eb | F | Gb | Ab | Bb | C |
| E altered scale | E | F | G | Ab | Bb | C | D |
| F altered scale | F | Gb | Ab | A | B | Db | Eb |
| G altered scale | G | Ab | Bb | B | Db | Eb | F |
| A altered scale | A | Bb | C | C# | Eb | F | G |
| B altered scale | B | C | D | Eb | F | G | A |
| Db altered scale | Db | D | E | F | G | A | B |
| Eb altered scale | Eb | E | Gb | G | A | B | Db |
| Gb altered scale | Gb | G | A | Bb | C | D | E |
| Ab altered scale | Ab | A | B | C | D | E | Gb |
| Bb altered scale | Bb | B | Db | D | E | Gb | Ab |
Now that you have a better understanding of the music theory behind altered scales, let’s start learning the 5 scale shapes throughout the fretboard.
5 altered scale shapes on the guitar
The five shapes below show the altered scale across the fretboard. Start with one comfortable position and use the remaining shapes later to expand into neighboring areas.
How to read the scale charts
For the charts below:
- The lowest horizontal line represents the thickest string (Low E). The top horizontal line represents the thinnest string (high E).
- The green circles represent the root note of the altered scale and the blue notes are every scale note in between.
- The numbers inside the circles represent the suggested fingering to use on your fretting hand.
If needed, check out how to read guitar notation symbols.
Altered scale shape 1
Try this: Play one altered-scale shape slowly and find the root, 3rd, and b7. Then identify one or two altered notes, such as the b9 or b13, and listen to the tension they create against the dominant sound.
Altered scale shape 2
Altered scale shape 3
Altered scale shape 4
Altered scale shape 5
Note: If a shape includes open strings, adjust the fingering as needed. Once you move into a fully fretted position, you can return to the fingering shown in the original shape.
Altered scale application examples
The altered scale becomes most useful when you hear its tension resolve. In the examples below, A altered is played over A7(b13), which then resolves to D minor 7.
Listen for how the altered notes create tension over A7, then settle when the line reaches notes from the D minor chord.
The first examples resolve fairly quickly into the minor chord. The later examples extend the altered sound longer before resolving.
Altered scale example 1
Try this: Play Example 1 over A7 resolving to D minor. Then create a shorter phrase of your own using one altered note over A7 and resolve it by a half step or whole step into a note from the D minor chord.
Altered scale example 2
Altered scale example 3
Altered scale example 4
Altered scale example 5
For more improvisation ideas, see these 7 jazz and blues licks over Dominant 7th chords.
Try this: Use an altered dominant chord resolving to a minor chord. Play one altered-scale shape over the dominant chord, deliberately use one altered tension, then resolve into the root, 3rd, or 5th of the minor chord. Repeat with a different altered note and listen to how each resolution feels.
Wrapping up
The altered scale gives you several tension notes to use over an altered dominant 7 chord. An easy way to find it is to use melodic minor one half step above the dominant root.
The goal is not just to run the scale. Listen to how notes such as the b9, #9, b5, and b13 create tension, then practice resolving them smoothly into chord tones of the next chord.
Start with one scale position and one dominant-to-minor resolution. The additional shapes and examples in this lesson give you more ways to expand the idea across the fretboard.
Before continuing
You’re ready to continue when you can find an altered scale by using melodic minor a half step above the dominant root, play one scale position, and create a short altered phrase that resolves into a chord tone of the next chord.
Next: Continue in the Mastery Roadmap to keep developing advanced scale sounds and their musical application.
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