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