About the C sharp Altered scale
C sharp 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 C♯ Locrian with the fourth lowered.
Its notes are C♯, D, E, F, G, A, and B. The formula is H W H W W W W. It is the seventh mode of D Melodic Minor Ascending.
Also called Super Locrian and Altered Dominant.
On the piano, this scale touches the black key C♯. Ascending through the mode, six white keys fall in a row.
Chords in the key of C sharp Altered
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
C sharp diminished over E (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D minor over F (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E minor over G (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F augmented over A (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G over B (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
A over C sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B diminished over D (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in C sharp Altered
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
C sharp minor seven flat five
D minor major seven
E minor seven
F major seven sharp five
G seven
A seven
B minor seven flat five
Progressions in C sharp Altered
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | C#C♯ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | DD | Minor 2nd |
| 3 | EE | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | FF | Diminished 4th |
| 5 | GG | Diminished 5th |
| 6 | AA | Minor 6th |
| 7 | BB | 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 | C sharp | D | E | F | G | A | B | C sharp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Left hand | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Altered in other keys
C Altered scaleD Altered scaleD sharp Altered scaleE Altered scaleF Altered scaleF sharp Altered scaleG Altered scaleG sharp Altered scaleA Altered scaleA sharp Altered scaleB Altered scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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