Explore scales · Bass
C altered scale on bass guitar
C altered contains C, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭, and B♭. Box 3 keeps the root on string 4, fret 8 for a high-position altered run.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the C altered scale on bass?
C altered in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 8 notes across 4 strings, from F♭ on the E string at fret 0 up to B♭ on the G string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 2 (D) | 1, 2 | E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
C altered in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 8 notes across 4 strings, from G♭ on the E string at fret 2 up to C on the G string at fret 5. The root falls on the A string at fret 3 and the G string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
| 3 (A) | 3, 4 | C, D♭ |
| 2 (D) | 2, 4 | F♭, G♭ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
C altered in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 9 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the E string at fret 4 up to D♭ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the G string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6 | G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 5, 6 | C, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
C altered in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 11 notes across 4 strings, from B♭ on the E string at fret 6 up to F♭ on the G string at fret 9. The root falls on the E string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7, 9 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
Box 5 · frets 8–11
C altered in box 5 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 11 notes across 4 strings, from C on the E string at fret 8 up to G♭ on the G string at fret 11. The root falls on the E string at fret 8 and the D string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 9, 11 | G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 9, 11 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
Box 6 · frets 11–14
C altered in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 10 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the E string at fret 11 up to A♭ on the G string at fret 13. 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) | 11, 12, 14 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 13 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 13 | G♭, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
C altered lowers the fourth of C locrian to F♭, creating 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. The tritone lies between C and G♭. See C locrian for the natural fourth.
When to use it
C altered fits C 7th flat 5 and C 7th sharp 5 chords. Use it over C 7th flat 5 in modal jazz or fusion. The ♭2 and ♭6 create a dark dominant colour.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 3 first. The root on string 4, fret 8 places the scale in a comfortable mid-neck position.
Common questions
What notes are in C altered?
C altered contains C, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭, and B♭. The scale degrees are 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. It is also called Altered Dominant.
Which chords does C altered fit?
C altered fits C 7th flat 5 and C 7th sharp 5 chords. The scale works over dominant chords with altered fifths. Use it for modal jazz or fusion.
How does C altered differ from C locrian?
C altered lowers the fourth degree from F to F♭. This creates a ♭4 interval instead of a perfect fourth. The rest of the scale matches C locrian.