Chord Colors

G♯ Altered scale

About the G sharp Altered scale

G 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 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

On the piano, G Altered touches the black keys G and F. Ascending through the scale, five white keys fall in a row.

Chords in the key of G sharp Altered

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

G sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

G sharp diminished over B (1st inversion)

ii A minor
Position 2 of 3

A minor over C (1st inversion)

iii B minor
Position 2 of 3

B minor over D (1st inversion)

IV+ C augmented
Position 2 of 3

C augmented over E (1st inversion)

V D
Position 2 of 3

D over F sharp (1st inversion)

VI E
Position 2 of 3

E over G sharp (1st inversion)

vii° F sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

F sharp diminished over A (1st inversion)

Seventh chords in G sharp Altered

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

G sharp minor seven flat five

G sharp minor seven flat five

ii A minor major seven

A minor major seven

iii B minor seven

B minor seven

IV+ C major seven sharp five

C major seven sharp five

V D seven

D seven

VI E seven

E seven

vii° F sharp minor seven flat five

F sharp minor seven flat five

Progressions in G sharp Altered

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

Notes and intervals

1G#G♯Root
2AAMinor 2nd
3BBMinor 3rd
4CCDiminished 4th
5DDDiminished 5th
6EEMinor 6th
7F#F♯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 sharpABCDEF sharpG sharp
Right hand41231234
Left hand32132143

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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Ab Altered scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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