C# Altered Scale on Ukulele: Notes, Positions

How it is built

C♯1D♭2E♭3F♭4G♭5A♭6B♭7

Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7

Chords these notes build

How do you play the C♯ altered scale on ukulele?

C♯ altered in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 9 notes across 4 strings, from C♯ on the C string at fret 1 up to C♯ on the A string at fret 4. The root falls on the C string at fret 1 and the A string at fret 4.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	2, 4	A, B
3 (C)	1, 2, 4	C♯, D, E
2 (E)	1, 3	F, G
1 (A)	2, 4	B, C♯

Box 2 · frets 4–7

C♯ altered in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 11 notes across 4 strings, from E on the C string at fret 4 up to E on the A string at fret 7. The root falls on the G string at fret 6 and the A string at fret 4.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	4, 6, 7	B, C♯, D
3 (C)	4, 5, 7	E, F, G
2 (E)	5, 7	A, B
1 (A)	4, 5, 7	C♯, D, E

Box 3 · frets 7–10

C♯ altered in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 11 notes across 4 strings, from G on the C string at fret 7 up to G on the A string at fret 10. The root falls on the E string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	7, 9, 10	D, E, F
3 (C)	7, 9	G, A
2 (E)	7, 9, 10	B, C♯, D
1 (A)	7, 8, 10	E, F, G

Box 4 · frets 9–12

C♯ altered in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 10 notes across 4 strings, from A on the C string at fret 9 up to A on the A string at fret 12. The root falls on the E string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	9, 10, 12	E, F, G
3 (C)	9, 11	A, B
2 (E)	9, 10, 12	C♯, D, E
1 (A)	10, 12	G, A

Why it sounds like that

C♯ altered is the seventh mode of D melodic minor, sharing its notes but starting on C♯. It differs from C♯ locrian by one note: the fourth degree is F instead of F♯, creating a major 3rd and a diminished 5th. The scale contains a tritone between C♯ and G.

When to use it

C♯ altered fits C♯ 7th flat 5 and C♯ 7th sharp 5 chords. Use it over dominant chords in E major or A♯ minor keys. It suits jazz, fusion, and outside blues lines.

Which position to practise

Learn Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 3, fret 1 and covers frets 1–4 for easy access to the lower register.

Common questions

What notes are in C♯ altered?

C♯ altered contains C♯, D, E, F, G, A, and B. The intervals are 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. It has a tritone between C♯ and G.

How does C♯ altered differ from C♯ locrian?

C♯ altered has F natural, while C♯ locrian has F♯. This changes the fourth degree from perfect to augmented. The altered scale is the seventh mode of D melodic minor.