Explore scales · Guitar
F altered scale on guitar
F altered uses F, G♭, A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭. Its Box 1 shape places the root on string 6, fret 1 for a low altered run.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the F altered scale on guitar?
F 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 low E string at fret 1, the D string at fret 3 and the high e string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 2, 4 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 2, 4 | C♭, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 3 (G) | 1, 2, 4 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 2, 4 | F, G♭, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
F altered in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 16 notes across 6 strings, from A♭ on the low E string at fret 4 up to C♭ on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the B string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 5, 7 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6, 7 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 6 | C♭, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6, 7 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 7 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
Box 3 · frets 7–10
F altered in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 13 notes across 6 strings, from C♭ on the low E string at fret 7 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the A string at fret 8 and the G string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 9 | C♭, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 9 | F, G♭ |
| 4 (D) | 7, 9 | B♭♭, C♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9, 10 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 1 (e) | 7, 9 | C♭, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
F altered in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 14 notes across 6 strings, from D♭ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the G string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11, 12 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11 | C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 11 | F, G♭ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 10, 12 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
F altered in box 5 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 low E string at fret 13 and the high e string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 13, 14 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 12, 14 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 13, 14 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 2 (B) | 12, 14 | C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13, 14 | E♭, F, G♭ |
Why it sounds like that
F altered is the seventh mode of G♭ melodic minor. The scale spells 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7, with B♭♭ as the ♭4 and C♭ as the ♭5. Compared with F locrian, the fourth drops from B♭ to B♭♭. The pattern H, W, H, W, W, W, W keeps half steps at the start and middle.
When to use it
Use F altered over F7♭5 or F7♯5 chords in jazz, fusion, and bebop. It fits dominant chords that resolve to B♭ minor or B♭ major. The altered fifths and ninths add tension before a ii–V–I in B♭. Try it over F 7th flat 5 or F 7th sharp 5.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 6, fret 1 and covers frets 1–4, making the half-step from F to G♭ easy to hear and finger.
Common questions
What notes are in F altered?
F altered contains F, G♭, A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, and E♭. The formula is 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. It is the seventh mode of G♭ melodic minor.
Which chords does F altered fit?
F altered fits dominant chords with altered fifths, such as F7♭5 and F7♯5. It also works over F7♭9 and F7♯9. These chords typically resolve to B♭ minor or B♭ major.
How does F altered differ from F locrian?
F altered has a flattened fourth (B♭♭) while F locrian has a perfect fourth (B♭). The rest of the notes are identical. This single change makes altered sound more dissonant.
What is the step pattern for F altered?
The step pattern is H, W, H, W, W, W, W. Starting on F, that gives F–G♭–A♭–B♭♭–C♭–D♭–E♭. The half steps fall between the first two and third and fourth degrees.