Explore scales · Guitar
B altered scale on guitar
B altered uses B, C, D, E♭, F, G, A. Its open-position Box 1 puts the root on string 5, fret 2 for quick altered lines.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the B altered scale on guitar?
B altered in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 13 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 2 and the G string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 3 | F, G |
| 5 (A) | 2, 3 | B, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 2, 4 | A, B |
| 2 (B) | 1, 3, 4 | C, D, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3 | F, G |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
B altered in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 14 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the G string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 5 | G, A |
| 5 (A) | 3, 5, 6 | C, D, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5 | F, G |
| 3 (G) | 4, 5 | B, C |
| 2 (B) | 3, 4, 6 | D, E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 5 | G, A |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
B altered in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 16 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the low E string at fret 7 and the high e string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5, 7, 8 | A, B, C |
| 5 (A) | 5, 6, 8 | D, E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 5, 7 | G, A |
| 3 (G) | 5, 7, 8 | C, D, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8 | F, G |
| 1 (e) | 5, 7, 8 | A, B, C |
Box 4 · frets 7–10
B altered in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 16 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to D on the high e string at fret 10. The root falls on the low E string at fret 7, the D string at fret 9 and the high e string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 8, 10 | B, C, D |
| 5 (A) | 8, 10 | F, G |
| 4 (D) | 7, 9, 10 | A, B, C |
| 3 (G) | 7, 8, 10 | D, E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 10 | G, A |
| 1 (e) | 7, 8, 10 | B, C, D |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
B altered in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 16 notes across 6 strings, from D on the low E string at fret 10 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the B string at fret 12.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 10, 12 | G, A |
| 4 (D) | 10, 12, 13 | C, D, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12 | F, G |
| 2 (B) | 10, 12, 13 | A, B, C |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
B altered is the seventh mode of C melodic minor. The scale spells 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7, with E♭ as the ♭4 and F as the ♭5. Compared with B locrian, the fourth drops from E to E♭. The pattern H, W, H, W, W, W, W keeps half steps at the start and middle.
When to use it
Use B altered over B7♭5 or B7♯5 chords in jazz, fusion, and bebop. It fits dominant chords that resolve to E minor or E major. The altered fifths and ninths add tension before a ii–V–I in E. Try it over B 7th flat 5 or B 7th sharp 5.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 5, fret 2 and covers frets 1–4, making the half-step from B to C easy to hear and finger.
Common questions
What notes are in B altered?
B altered contains B, C, D, E♭, F, G, and A. The formula is 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. It is the seventh mode of C melodic minor.
Which chords does B altered fit?
B altered fits dominant chords with altered fifths, such as B7♭5 and B7♯5. It also works over B7♭9 and B7♯9. These chords typically resolve to E minor or E major.
How does B altered differ from B locrian?
B altered has a flattened fourth (E♭) while B locrian has a perfect fourth (E). The rest of the notes are identical. This single change makes altered sound more dissonant.
What is the step pattern for B altered?
The step pattern is H, W, H, W, W, W, W. Starting on B, that gives B–C–D–E♭–F–G–A. The half steps fall between the first two and third and fourth degrees.