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