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D altered scale on guitar
D altered uses D, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C. Its Box 1 shape places the root on string 5, fret 5 for a mid-neck altered run.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the D altered scale on guitar?
D altered in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 16 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the B string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 2, 4 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 3, 4 | C, D, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 2, 4 | F, G♭, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
D altered in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 13 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 A string at fret 5 and the G string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 5, 6 | D, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6 | G♭, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 7 | C, D |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6, 7 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
D altered in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 14 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the G string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8, 9 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 7, 8 | D, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 7, 9 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
D altered in box 4 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 10 and the high e string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 9, 11 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10 | B♭, C |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10, 11 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
D 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 low E string at fret 10, the D string at fret 12 and the high e string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13 | A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 10, 12, 13 | C, D, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 11, 13 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13 | B♭, C |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
D altered is the seventh mode of E♭ melodic minor. The scale spells 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7, with G♭ as the ♭4 and A♭ as the ♭5. Compared with D locrian, the fourth drops from G to G♭. The pattern H, W, H, W, W, W, W keeps half steps at the start and middle.
When to use it
Use D altered over D7♭5 or D7♯5 chords in jazz, fusion, and bebop. It fits dominant chords that resolve to G minor or G major. The altered fifths and ninths add tension before a ii–V–I in G. Try it over D 7th flat 5 or D 7th sharp 5.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 5, fret 5 and covers frets 1–4, making the half-step from D to E♭ easy to hear and finger.
Common questions
What notes are in D altered?
D altered contains D, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, and C. The formula is 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. It is the seventh mode of E♭ melodic minor.
Which chords does D altered fit?
D altered fits dominant chords with altered fifths, such as D7♭5 and D7♯5. It also works over D7♭9 and D7♯9. These chords typically resolve to G minor or G major.
How does D altered differ from D locrian?
D altered has a flattened fourth (G♭) while D locrian has a perfect fourth (G). The rest of the notes are identical. This single change makes altered sound more dissonant.
What is the step pattern for D altered?
The step pattern is H, W, H, W, W, W, W. Starting on D, that gives D–E♭–F–G♭–A♭–B♭–C. The half steps fall between the first two and third and fourth degrees.