Explore scales · Guitar
E altered scale on guitar
E altered uses E, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D. Its Box 1 shape places the root on string 4, fret 2 for a low altered run.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the E altered scale on guitar?
E 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 low E string at fret 0, the D string at fret 2 and the high e string at fret 0.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 1, 3 | E, F, G |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 0, 2, 3 | D, E, F |
| 3 (G) | 0, 1, 3 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 3 | C, D |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1, 3 | E, F, G |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
E altered in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 16 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the B string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 5 | C, D |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | F, G, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 3, 5, 6 | D, E, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
E altered in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 13 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 A string at fret 7 and the G string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
| 5 (A) | 7, 8 | E, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 7, 9 | D, E |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8, 9 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
E altered in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 14 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to D on the high e string at fret 10. The root falls on the G string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 10 | C, D |
| 5 (A) | 8, 10, 11 | F, G, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10 | B♭, C |
| 3 (G) | 9, 10 | E, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9, 11 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 10 | C, D |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
E 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 12 and the high e string at fret 12.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10, 12, 13 | D, E, F |
| 5 (A) | 10, 11, 13 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 10, 12 | C, D |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12, 13 | F, G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13 | B♭, C |
| 1 (e) | 10, 12, 13 | D, E, F |
Why it sounds like that
E altered is the seventh mode of F melodic minor. The scale spells 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7, with A♭ as the ♭4 and B♭ as the ♭5. Compared with E locrian, the fourth drops from A to A♭. The pattern H, W, H, W, W, W, W keeps half steps at the start and middle.
When to use it
Use E altered over E7♭5 or E7♯5 chords in jazz, fusion, and bebop. It fits dominant chords that resolve to A minor or A major. The altered fifths and ninths add tension before a ii–V–I in A. Try it over E 7th flat 5 or E 7th sharp 5.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 4, fret 2 and covers frets 0–3, making the half-step from E to F easy to hear and finger.
Common questions
What notes are in E altered?
E altered contains E, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, and D. The formula is 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. It is the seventh mode of F melodic minor.
Which chords does E altered fit?
E altered fits dominant chords with altered fifths, such as E7♭5 and E7♯5. It also works over E7♭9 and E7♯9. These chords typically resolve to A minor or A major.
How does E altered differ from E locrian?
E altered has a flattened fourth (A♭) while E locrian has a perfect fourth (A). The rest of the notes are identical. This single change makes altered sound more dissonant.
What is the step pattern for E altered?
The step pattern is H, W, H, W, W, W, W. Starting on E, that gives E–F–G–A♭–B♭–C–D. The half steps fall between the first two and third and fourth degrees.