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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 4 for a compact altered run.
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, 16 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the B string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 1, 3 | E, F, G |
| 5 (A) | 0, 2 | A, B |
| 4 (D) | 0, 2, 3 | D, E, F |
| 3 (G) | 0, 2 | G, A |
| 2 (B) | 0, 2, 3 | B, C♯, D |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1, 3 | E, F, G |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
C♯ altered in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 13 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 A string at fret 4 and the G string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 5 | G, A |
| 5 (A) | 4, 5 | C♯, D |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5 | F, G |
| 3 (G) | 4, 6 | B, C♯ |
| 2 (B) | 3, 5, 6 | D, E, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 5 | G, A |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
C♯ altered in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 14 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to B on the high e 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5, 7 | A, B |
| 5 (A) | 5, 7, 8 | D, E, F |
| 4 (D) | 5, 7 | G, A |
| 3 (G) | 6, 7 | C♯, D |
| 2 (B) | 5, 6, 8 | E, F, G |
| 1 (e) | 5, 7 | A, B |
Box 4 · frets 7–10
C♯ 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 9 and the high e string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 9, 10 | B, C♯, D |
| 5 (A) | 7, 8, 10 | E, F, G |
| 4 (D) | 7, 9 | A, B |
| 3 (G) | 7, 9, 10 | D, E, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 10 | G, A |
| 1 (e) | 7, 9, 10 | B, C♯, D |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
C♯ altered in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 16 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the low E string at fret 9, the D string at fret 11 and the high e string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 10, 12 | C♯, D, E |
| 5 (A) | 10, 12 | G, A |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11, 12 | B, C♯, D |
| 3 (G) | 9, 10, 12 | E, F, G |
| 2 (B) | 10, 12 | A, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 10, 12 | C♯, D, E |
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 C♯7♭5 or C♯7♯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 4 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. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does C♯ altered fit?
C♯ altered fits dominant chords with altered fifths, such as C♯7♭5 and C♯7♯5. It also works over C♯7♭9 and C♯7♯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.