About the G#/Ab Altered Scale (Super Locrian)
The G#/Ab 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#, A, B, C, D, E and F#, built from the formula 1 ♭2 ♭3 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- G# – A – B – C – D – E – 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#/Ab
G#/Ab Altered Scale (Super Locrian) degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G# | Root |
| ♭2 | A | Minor 2nd |
| ♭3 | B | Minor 3rd |
| 3 | C | Major 3rd |
| ♭5 | D | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | E | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | F# | Minor 7th |
Where to play the G#/Ab Altered Scale (Super Locrian) on 6-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G C), lowest string first. Root notes (G#) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| E1 | 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 |
| A1 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12 |
| D2 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| G2 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11 |
| C3 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 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#/Ab Altered Scale (Super Locrian)
These scales share every note with the G#/Ab 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#/Ab
- G#/Ab Minor Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Major Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Mixolydian Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Natural Minor
- G#/Ab Major (Ionian)
- G#/Ab Blues
- G#/Ab Dorian
- G#/Ab Mixolydian
- G#/Ab Phrygian
- G#/Ab Harmonic Minor
- G#/Ab Lydian
- G#/Ab Locrian
- G#/Ab Diminished (Half-Whole)
- G#/Ab Diminished (Whole-Half)
- G#/Ab Whole Tone
- G#/Ab Augmented (Hexatonic)
- G#/Ab Phrygian Dominant
- G#/Ab Lydian Dominant
- G#/Ab Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- G#/Ab Bebop Dominant
- G#/Ab Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- G#/Ab Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)