Explore scales · Bass
A altered scale on bass guitar
A altered contains A, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, and G. Box 1 places the root on string 4, fret 5 for a compact altered-dominant shape.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the A altered scale on bass?
A altered in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 9 notes across 4 strings, from F on the E string at fret 1 up to B♭ on the G string at fret 3. The root falls on the G string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1, 3 | F, G |
| 3 (A) | 1, 3, 4 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3 | A, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
A altered in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 11 notes across 4 strings, from G on the E string at fret 3 up to D♭ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the E string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 3, 4, 6 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 3, 5 | F, G |
| 1 (G) | 3, 5, 6 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
A altered in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 11 notes across 4 strings, from A on the E string at fret 5 up to E♭ on the G string at fret 8. The root falls on the E string at fret 5 and the D string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5, 6, 8 | A, B♭, C |
| 3 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 2 (D) | 5, 7, 8 | G, A, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 5, 6, 8 | C, D♭, E♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
A altered in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 10 notes across 4 strings, from C on the E string at fret 8 up to F on the G string at fret 10. No root falls inside this box; it sits between two of them.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 8, 10 | F, G |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
A altered in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 8 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the E string at fret 11 up to A on the G string at fret 14. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the G string at fret 14.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
| 3 (A) | 12, 13 | A, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 12, 14 | G, A |
Why it sounds like that
A altered lowers the fourth of A locrian to D♭, creating a 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7 set. The scale contains a tritone between A and E♭. Compare it with A locrian to hear the ♭4 change.
When to use it
A altered fits A 7th flat 5 and A 7th sharp 5 chords. Use it over A 7th flat 5 in jazz or fusion lines. The ♭2 and ♭6 add tension to dominant resolutions.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 4, fret 5, keeping the hand in one position for the full scale.
Common questions
What notes are in A altered?
A altered contains A, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, and G. The scale degrees are 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. It is also called Altered Dominant.
Which chords does A altered fit?
A altered fits A 7th flat 5 and A 7th sharp 5 chords. The scale works over dominant chords with altered fifths. Use it for jazz or fusion lines.
How does A altered differ from A locrian?
A altered lowers the fourth degree from D to D♭. This creates a ♭4 interval instead of a perfect fourth. The rest of the scale matches A locrian.