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C altered scale on guitar
C altered uses C, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭, B♭. Its Box 1 shape places the root on string 5, fret 3 for easy access to the ♭5.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the C altered scale on guitar?
C altered in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 12 notes across 6 strings, from F♭ on the low E string at fret 0 up to G♭ on the high e string at fret 2. The root falls on the A string at fret 3 and the B string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 2 | E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2 | C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
C altered in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 13 notes across 6 strings, from G♭ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 4 | C, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 4 | F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4, 5 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
C altered in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 14 notes across 6 strings, from A♭ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B♭ on the high e 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6 | G♭, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 6 | C, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5, 7 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
C altered in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 16 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the low E string at fret 8 and the high e string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 7, 9 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9 | G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 5 · frets 8–11
C altered in box 5 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 16 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the low E string at fret 8, the D string at fret 10 and the high e string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11 | G♭, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 9, 11 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
Box 6 · frets 11–14
C altered in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 16 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to G♭ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the B string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 12, 14 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13 | A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 13 | G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13, 14 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 12, 14 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
Why it sounds like that
C altered is the seventh mode of D♭ melodic minor. The scale spells 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7, with F♭ as the ♭4 and G♭ as the ♭5. Compared with C locrian, the fourth drops from F to F♭. The pattern H, W, H, W, W, W, W keeps half steps at the start and middle.
When to use it
Use C altered over C7♭5 or C7♯5 chords in jazz, fusion, and bebop. It fits dominant chords that resolve to F minor or F major. The altered fifths and ninths add tension before a ii–V–I in F. Try it over C 7th flat 5 or C 7th sharp 5.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 5, fret 3 and covers frets 0–3, making the half-step from C to D♭ easy to hear and finger.
Common questions
What notes are in C altered?
C altered contains C, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭, and B♭. The formula is 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. It is the seventh mode of D♭ melodic minor.
Which chords does C altered fit?
C altered fits dominant chords with altered fifths, such as C7♭5 and C7♯5. It also works over C7♭9 and C7♯9. These chords typically resolve to F minor or F major.
How does C altered differ from C locrian?
C altered has a flattened fourth (F♭) while C locrian has a perfect fourth (F). The rest of the notes are identical. This single change makes altered sound more dissonant.
What is the step pattern for C altered?
The step pattern is H, W, H, W, W, W, W. Starting on C, that gives C–D♭–E♭–F♭–G♭–A♭–B♭. The half steps fall between the first two and third and fourth degrees.