About the B flat Altered scale
B flat Altered is used for jazz solos over altered dominant chords. Think of it as the altered dominant scale, a major third surrounded by every tension raised or lowered. It is B♭ Locrian with the fourth lowered.
Its notes are B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭♭, F♭, G♭, and A♭. The formula is H W H W W W W. It is the seventh mode of C♭ Melodic Minor Ascending.
Also called Super Locrian and Altered Dominant.
B♭ Altered draws four black keys from the piano, B♭, D♭, G♭, and A♭.
Chords in the key of B flat Altered
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
B flat diminished over D flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
C flat minor over E double flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D flat minor over F flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E double flat augmented over G flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F flat over A flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G flat over B flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
A flat diminished over C flat (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in B flat Altered
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
B flat minor seven flat five
C flat minor major seven
D flat minor seven
E double flat major seven sharp five
F flat seven
G flat seven
A flat minor seven flat five
Progressions in B flat Altered
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | BbB♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | CbC♭ | Minor 2nd |
| 3 | DbD♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | EbbE♭♭ | Diminished 4th |
| 5 | FbF♭ | Diminished 5th |
| 6 | GbG♭ | Minor 6th |
| 7 | AbA♭ | Minor 7th |
| Steps | H W H W W W W |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 1-2-1-2-2-2-2 |
| Degrees | 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7 |
Fingering
Suggested fingering, follows standard fingering rules
| Hand | B flat | C flat | D flat | E double flat | F flat | G flat | A flat | B flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Left hand | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Altered in other keys
C Altered scaleD flat Altered scaleD Altered scaleE flat Altered scaleE Altered scaleF Altered scaleG flat Altered scaleG Altered scaleA flat Altered scaleA Altered scaleB Altered scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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