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G altered scale on guitar
G altered uses G, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F. Its Box 1 shape places the root on string 6, fret 3 for a low altered run.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the G altered scale on guitar?
G 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 3 and the high e string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 2, 4 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3, 4 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
G 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 low E string at fret 3, the D string at fret 5 and the high e string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | F, G, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 4, 6 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6 | E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
G altered in box 3 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 B string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 7, 9 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8, 9 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 7, 9 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
G altered in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 13 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 A string at fret 10 and the G string at fret 12.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 10, 11 | G, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11 | C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12 | F, G |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11, 12 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
G altered in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 14 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the G string at fret 12.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 12, 13 | G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 12, 14 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
G altered is the seventh mode of A♭ melodic minor. The scale spells 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7, with C♭ as the ♭4 and D♭ as the ♭5. Compared with G locrian, the fourth drops from C to C♭. The pattern H, W, H, W, W, W, W keeps half steps at the start and middle.
When to use it
Use G altered over G7♭5 or G7♯5 chords in jazz, fusion, and bebop. It fits dominant chords that resolve to C minor or C major. The altered fifths and ninths add tension before a ii–V–I in C. Try it over G 7th flat 5 or G 7th sharp 5.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 6, fret 3 and covers frets 1–4, making the half-step from G to A♭ easy to hear and finger.
Common questions
What notes are in G altered?
G altered contains G, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, and F. The formula is 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. It is the seventh mode of A♭ melodic minor.
Which chords does G altered fit?
G altered fits dominant chords with altered fifths, such as G7♭5 and G7♯5. It also works over G7♭9 and G7♯9. These chords typically resolve to C minor or C major.
How does G altered differ from G locrian?
G altered has a flattened fourth (C♭) while G locrian has a perfect fourth (C). The rest of the notes are identical. This single change makes altered sound more dissonant.
What is the step pattern for G altered?
The step pattern is H, W, H, W, W, W, W. Starting on G, that gives G–A♭–B♭–C♭–D♭–E♭–F. The half steps fall between the first two and third and fourth degrees.