Scales & Modes
C Altered
Neck DiagramOne of the 66 seven-note scales (#2, mode 7): 1 b2 b3 b4 b5 b6 b7 against major.
How it sounds, and where to use it
Often described as tense, clever-sounding jazz over a dominant seventh.
How usual it sounds: nearly side by side on the circle of fifths: familiar, with a touch of color. (2 gaps round the circle of fifths. See its shape.)
Same notes as D♭ Melodic Minor: read its key signature from there.
Solo with it over:Cm7♭5CdimCaug
Chords on C made only from this scale's notes, so every note of the scale sits safely over them.
Mode 7 of C♯ Melodic Minor: the same notes, started from its degree 7.
Formula: H-W-H-W-W-W-W · Arpeggios in C Altered
| Step | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | C | D♭ | E♭ | F♭ | G♭ | A♭ | B♭ |
| Degree | 1 | ♭2 | ♭3 | ♭4 | ♭5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
| Interval | P1 | m2 | m3 | M3 | TT | m6 | m7 |
Degree and Interval are the same thing written two ways: how far each note is from the root (♭2 and m2 here). See them all on the Intervals page → Click either one in the table to open that interval.
Modes
Two octaves across; each mode starts one scale degree later and is numbered from its own root. ▶ plays a mode.
The same notes, started from each degree: the degrees against major, the steps between them, and the notes.
| # | Degrees and steps | Notes | Name(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | 1♭2♭3♭4♭5♭6♭78HWHWWWW | C D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ C | Super Locrian | |
| II | 12♭345678WHWWWWH | D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ C D♭ | Melodic Minor | |
| III | 1♭2♭3456♭78HWWWWHW | E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ | Dorian ♭2 | |
| IV | 123♯4♯5678WWWWHWH | E F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯ E | Lydian Augmented | |
| V | 123♯456♭78WWWHWHW | F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯ E F♯ | Lydian Dominant | |
| VI | 12345♭6♭78WWHWHWW | A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ | Hindu | |
| VII | 12♭34♭5♭6♭78WHWHWWW | B♭ C D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ | Locrian ♮2 |
Nobody has found a C Altered track yet. The root drone on the Every 7-note scale page works for any scale meanwhile.
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For more on modes, check out
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