About the C#/Db Altered Scale (Super Locrian)
The C#/Db altered scale is a 7-note scale. All altered tensions (♭9, #9, ♭5, #5) for dominant 7th chords resolving to minor. Its notes are C#, D, E, F, G, A and B, built from the formula 1 ♭2 ♭3 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- C# – D – E – F – G – A – B
- Formula
- 1 ♭2 ♭3 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- H W H W W W W (1–2–1–2–2–2–2 semitones)
- Root
- C#/Db
C#/Db Altered Scale (Super Locrian) degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C# | Root |
| ♭2 | D | Minor 2nd |
| ♭3 | E | Minor 3rd |
| 3 | F | Major 3rd |
| ♭5 | G | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | A | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | B | Minor 7th |
Where to play the C#/Db Altered Scale (Super Locrian) on 5-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (C#) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| E1 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| A1 | 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 |
| D2 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12 |
| G2 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
How to practice the altered scale
- Use over V7alt chords resolving to minor
- Practice the melodic minor a half step up
- Work on jazz turnarounds (ii-V-i)
- Emphasize the ♭9 and #9 tensions
- Great for creating outside tension before resolution
Scales with the same notes as C#/Db Altered Scale (Super Locrian)
These scales share every note with the C#/Db altered scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Altered scale in other keys
Other scales in C#/Db
- C#/Db Minor Pentatonic
- C#/Db Major Pentatonic
- C#/Db Mixolydian Pentatonic
- C#/Db Natural Minor
- C#/Db Major (Ionian)
- C#/Db Blues
- C#/Db Dorian
- C#/Db Mixolydian
- C#/Db Phrygian
- C#/Db Harmonic Minor
- C#/Db Lydian
- C#/Db Locrian
- C#/Db Diminished (Half-Whole)
- C#/Db Diminished (Whole-Half)
- C#/Db Whole Tone
- C#/Db Augmented (Hexatonic)
- C#/Db Phrygian Dominant
- C#/Db Lydian Dominant
- C#/Db Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- C#/Db Bebop Dominant
- C#/Db Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- C#/Db Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)