Explore scales · Bass
C♯ altered scale on bass guitar
C♯ altered contains C♯, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Box 4 places the root on string 4, fret 9 for an upper-neck altered shape.
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, 10 notes across 4 strings, from E on the E string at fret 0 up to A on the G string at fret 2. 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) | 0, 1, 3 | E, F, G |
| 3 (A) | 0, 2 | A, B |
| 2 (D) | 0, 2, 3 | D, E, F |
| 1 (G) | 0, 2 | G, A |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
C♯ altered in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 8 notes across 4 strings, from G on the E string at fret 3 up to C♯ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the G string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3, 5 | G, A |
| 3 (A) | 4, 5 | C♯, D |
| 2 (D) | 3, 5 | F, G |
| 1 (G) | 4, 6 | B, C♯ |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
C♯ altered in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 9 notes across 4 strings, from A on the E string at fret 5 up to D on the G string at fret 7. The root falls on the G string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5, 7 | A, B |
| 3 (A) | 5, 7, 8 | D, E, F |
| 2 (D) | 5, 7 | G, A |
| 1 (G) | 6, 7 | C♯, D |
Box 4 · frets 7–10
C♯ altered in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 11 notes across 4 strings, from B on the E string at fret 7 up to F on the G string at fret 10. The root falls on the E string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7, 9, 10 | B, C♯, D |
| 3 (A) | 7, 8, 10 | E, F, G |
| 2 (D) | 7, 9 | A, B |
| 1 (G) | 7, 9, 10 | D, E, F |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
C♯ altered in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 11 notes across 4 strings, from C♯ on the E string at fret 9 up to G on the G string at fret 12. The root falls on the E string at fret 9 and the D string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 10, 12 | C♯, D, E |
| 3 (A) | 10, 12 | G, A |
| 2 (D) | 9, 11, 12 | B, C♯, D |
| 1 (G) | 9, 10, 12 | E, F, G |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ altered lowers the fourth of C♯ locrian to F, producing 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. The tritone sits between C♯ and G. Compare with C♯ locrian to hear the ♭4 change.
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 contemporary jazz. The ♭2 and ♭6 add tension to dominant resolutions.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 4 first. The root on string 4, fret 9 gives a wide fret span for the scale.
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 spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
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 contemporary jazz.
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.