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