About the F Altered scale
F 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 F Locrian with the fourth lowered.
Its notes are F, G♭, A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, and E♭. The formula is H W H W W W W. It is the seventh mode of G♭ Melodic Minor Ascending.
Also called Super Locrian and Altered Dominant.
The black keys G♭, A♭, D♭, and E♭ belong to F Altered.
Chords in the key of F Altered
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i° F diminished
F diminished over A flat (1st inversion)
ii G flat minor
G flat minor over B double flat (1st inversion)
iii A flat minor
A flat minor over C flat (1st inversion)
IV+ B double flat augmented
B double flat augmented over D flat (1st inversion)
V C flat
C flat over E flat (1st inversion)
VI D flat
D flat over F (1st inversion)
vii° E flat diminished
E flat diminished over G flat (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in F Altered
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i° F minor seven flat five
F minor seven flat five
ii G flat minor major seven
G flat minor major seven
iii A flat minor seven
A flat minor seven
IV+ B double flat major seven sharp five
B double flat major seven sharp five
V C flat seven
C flat seven
VI D flat seven
D flat seven
vii° E flat minor seven flat five
E flat minor seven flat five
Progressions in F Altered
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | FF | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | GbG♭ | Minor 2nd |
| 3 | AbA♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | BbbB♭♭ | Diminished 4th |
| 5 | CbC♭ | Diminished 5th |
| 6 | DbD♭ | Minor 6th |
| 7 | EbE♭ | 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 | F | G flat | A flat | B double flat | C flat | D flat | E flat | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Altered in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.