Chord Colors

G♭ Altered scale

About the G flat Altered scale

G 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 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.

Learn more about the G♭ Altered scale

G Altered uses two black keys on the piano, G and C♭♭.

Chords in the key of G flat Altered

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

G flat diminished
Position 2 of 3

G flat diminished over B double flat (1st inversion)

ii A double flat minor
Position 2 of 3

A double flat minor over C double flat (1st inversion)

iii B double flat minor
Position 2 of 3

B double flat minor over D double flat (1st inversion)

IV+ C double flat augmented
Position 2 of 3

C double flat augmented over E double flat (1st inversion)

V D double flat
Position 2 of 3

D double flat over F flat (1st inversion)

VI E double flat
Position 2 of 3

E double flat over G flat (1st inversion)

vii° F flat diminished
Position 2 of 3

F flat diminished over A double flat (1st inversion)

Seventh chords in G flat Altered

The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.

G flat minor seven flat five

G flat minor seven flat five

ii A double flat minor major seven

A double flat minor major seven

iii B double flat minor seven

B double flat minor seven

IV+ C double flat major seven sharp five

C double flat major seven sharp five

V D double flat seven

D double flat seven

VI E double flat seven

E double flat seven

vii° F flat minor seven flat five

F flat minor seven flat five

Progressions in G flat Altered

Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.

Notes and intervals

1GbG♭Root
2AbbA♭♭Minor 2nd
3BbbB♭♭Minor 3rd
4CbbC♭♭Diminished 4th
5DbbD♭♭Diminished 5th
6EbbE♭♭Minor 6th
7FbF♭Minor 7th
StepsH W H W W W W
Semitones1-2-1-2-2-2-2
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Fingering

Suggested fingering, follows standard fingering rules

Hand G flatA double flatB double flatC double flatD double flatE double flatF flatG flat
Right hand41231234
Left hand32143213

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Altered in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

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Gb Altered scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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