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