B♭ Altered scale
The B♭ Altered scale is a 7-note altered scale built on the root B♭. Its notes are B♭, C♭, D♭, E𝄫, F♭, G♭ and A♭. Seventh mode of melodic minor (super-Locrian) — every available alteration on a dominant: ♭9, ♯9, ♯11, ♭13. This page covers the formula, fingerings, diatonic chords and common progressions that make B♭ Altered a great tool for improvising and composing.
The Altered scale is the go-to choice over a V7alt chord in jazz. Every note that can be altered on a dominant is altered, making it the most tense and most resolution-hungry scale in the modal canon. Built on the root B♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where B♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
- Notes
- B♭ · C♭ · D♭ · E𝄫 · F♭ · G♭ · A♭
- Formula
- 1P · 2m · 2A · 3M · 4A · 6m · 7m
- Step pattern
- H W H W W W W
- Tonic
- B♭
B♭ Altered on the piano
B♭ Altered on the guitar
B♭ Altered on the staff
Hear the B♭ Altered scale
Improvisation drone
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
Notes of the B♭ Altered scale
| Degree | Interval | Semitones | Note | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1P | 0 | B♭(Bb) | |
| 2 | 2m | 1 | C♭(Cb) | |
| 3 | 2A | 3 | D♭(Db) | |
| 4 | 3M | 4 | E𝄫(Ebb) | |
| 5 | 4A | 6 | F♭(Fb) | |
| 6 | 6m | 8 | G♭(Gb) | |
| 7 | 7m | 10 | A♭(Ab) |
Diatonic chords of B♭ Altered
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
How to use the B♭ Altered scale
The diatonic chords of B♭ Altered are: i° = B♭°, ii = C♭m, iii = D♭m, IV+ = E𝄫+, V = F♭, VI = G♭, vii° = A♭°. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in B♭ Altered. Click any chord below to open its full diagram and progressions.
The Altered scale is the go-to choice over a V7alt chord in jazz. Every note that can be altered on a dominant is altered, making it the most tense and most resolution-hungry scale in the modal canon.
Practice tips
Practise the altered scale exclusively over altered V7 chords. Resolve every altered tone (♭9 → root, ♯9 → ♭3 of the I chord) to feel why this scale is built for tension and release.
Where you will hear B♭ Altered
B♭ Altered appears throughout the altered scale is the go-to choice over a v7alt chord in jazz. every note that can be altered on a dominant is altered, making it the most tense and most resolution-hungry scale in the modal canon. Listening to music in this scale and transcribing short phrases is the fastest way to absorb its sound.
Formula & step pattern
The B♭ Altered scale follows the seventh mode of melodic minor — root, ♭9, ♯9, 3, ♯11, ♭13, ♭7, packing every common dominant alteration into one scale. Step pattern: H - W - H - W - W - W - W. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2m · 2A · 3M · 4A · 6m · 7m. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Questions people ask
- What notes are in the B♭ Altered scale?
- The B♭ Altered scale contains B♭, C♭, D♭, E𝄫, F♭, G♭ and A♭.
- What is the formula for the B♭ Altered scale?
- B♭ Altered follows the seventh mode of melodic minor — root, ♭9, ♯9, 3, ♯11, ♭13, ♭7, packing every common dominant alteration into one scale.
- Is B♭ Altered a major or minor scale?
- B♭ Altered is a altered scale. Seventh mode of melodic minor (super-Locrian) — every available alteration on a dominant: ♭9, ♯9, ♯11, ♭13.
- What chords belong to the B♭ Altered scale?
- The diatonic chords of B♭ Altered are B♭°, C♭m, D♭m, E𝄫+, F♭, G♭, A♭°.
- Which genres use B♭ Altered?
- The Altered scale is the go-to choice over a V7alt chord in jazz. Every note that can be altered on a dominant is altered, making it the most tense and most resolution-hungry scale in the modal canon.
- How do I practise the B♭ Altered scale?
- Practise the altered scale exclusively over altered V7 chords. Resolve every altered tone (♭9 → root, ♯9 → ♭3 of the I chord) to feel why this scale is built for tension and release.