Explore scales · Ukulele
A♭ altered scale on ukulele
A♭ altered contains A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭♭, E♭♭, F♭, and G♭. Box 1 places the root at string 4, fret 1 for a low start.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the A♭ altered scale on ukulele?
A♭ altered in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 9 notes across 4 strings, from D♭♭ on the C string at fret 0 up to D♭♭ on the A string at fret 3. The root falls on the G string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1, 2 | A♭, B♭♭ |
| 3 (C) | 0, 2 | D♭♭, E♭♭ |
| 2 (E) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
| 1 (A) | 0, 2, 3 | B♭♭, C♭, D♭♭ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
A♭ altered in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 11 notes across 4 strings, from E♭♭ on the C string at fret 2 up to E♭♭ on the A string at fret 5. The root falls on the E string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2, 4, 5 | B♭♭, C♭, D♭♭ |
| 3 (C) | 2, 4 | E♭♭, F♭ |
| 2 (E) | 2, 4, 5 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 1 (A) | 2, 3, 5 | C♭, D♭♭, E♭♭ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
A♭ altered in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 10 notes across 4 strings, from F♭ on the C string at fret 4 up to F♭ on the A string at fret 7. The root falls on the E string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4, 5, 7 | C♭, D♭♭, E♭♭ |
| 3 (C) | 4, 6 | F♭, G♭ |
| 2 (E) | 4, 5, 7 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 1 (A) | 5, 7 | E♭♭, F♭ |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
A♭ altered in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 9 notes across 4 strings, from G♭ on the C string at fret 6 up to G♭ on the A string at fret 9. The root falls on the C string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7, 9 | E♭♭, F♭ |
| 3 (C) | 6, 8, 9 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 2 (E) | 7, 8 | C♭, D♭♭ |
| 1 (A) | 7, 9 | F♭, G♭ |
Box 5 · frets 8–11
A♭ altered in box 5 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 9 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the C string at fret 8 up to A♭ on the A string at fret 11. The root falls on the C string at fret 8 and the A string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9, 11 | F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (C) | 8, 9, 11 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 2 (E) | 8, 10 | D♭♭, E♭♭ |
| 1 (A) | 9, 11 | G♭, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ altered is the seventh mode of B♭♭ melodic minor, sharing its notes but starting on A♭. It differs from A♭ locrian by one note: the fourth degree is D♭♭ instead of D♭, creating a major 3rd and a diminished 5th. The scale contains a tritone between A♭ and E♭♭.
When to use it
A♭ altered fits A♭ 7th flat 5 and A♭ 7th sharp 5 chords. Use it over dominant chords in C♭ major or F minor keys. It suits jazz, fusion, and outside blues lines.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 4, fret 1 and covers frets 0–3 for easy access to the lower register.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ altered?
A♭ altered contains A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭♭, E♭♭, F♭, and G♭. The intervals are 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. It has a tritone between A♭ and E♭♭.
How does A♭ altered differ from A♭ locrian?
A♭ altered has D♭♭, while A♭ locrian has D♭. This changes the fourth degree from perfect to augmented. The altered scale is the seventh mode of B♭♭ melodic minor.