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.
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.
i° G flat diminished
G flat diminished over B double flat (1st inversion)
ii A double flat minor
A double flat minor over C double flat (1st inversion)
iii B double flat minor
B double flat minor over D double flat (1st inversion)
IV+ C double flat augmented
C double flat augmented over E double flat (1st inversion)
V D double flat
D double flat over F flat (1st inversion)
VI E double flat
E double flat over G flat (1st inversion)
vii° F flat diminished
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.
i° 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
| 1 | GbG♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | AbbA♭♭ | Minor 2nd |
| 3 | BbbB♭♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | CbbC♭♭ | Diminished 4th |
| 5 | DbbD♭♭ | Diminished 5th |
| 6 | EbbE♭♭ | Minor 6th |
| 7 | FbF♭ | 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 flat | A double flat | B double flat | C double flat | D double flat | E double flat | F flat | G flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Altered in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.