Explore scales · Ukulele
E♭ altered scale on ukulele
E♭ altered contains E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭♭, B♭♭, C♭, and D♭. Box 1 places the root at string 3, fret 3 for a compact start.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the E♭ altered scale on ukulele?
E♭ altered in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 9 notes across 4 strings, from D♭ on the C string at fret 1 up to D♭ on the A string at fret 4. The root falls on the C string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2, 4 | B♭♭, C♭ |
| 3 (C) | 1, 3, 4 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (E) | 2, 3 | G♭, A♭♭ |
| 1 (A) | 2, 4 | C♭, D♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
E♭ altered in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 9 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the C string at fret 3 up to E♭ on the A string at fret 6. The root falls on the C string at fret 3 and the A string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4, 6 | C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (C) | 3, 4, 6 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 2 (E) | 3, 5 | A♭♭, B♭♭ |
| 1 (A) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
E♭ altered in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 11 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 G string at fret 8 and the A string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (C) | 6, 7, 9 | G♭, A♭♭, B♭♭ |
| 2 (E) | 7, 9 | C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (A) | 6, 7, 9 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
E♭ altered in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 11 notes across 4 strings, from B♭♭ on the C string at fret 9 up to B♭♭ on the A string at fret 12. The root falls on the E string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9, 11, 12 | F♭, G♭, A♭♭ |
| 3 (C) | 9, 11 | B♭♭, C♭ |
| 2 (E) | 9, 11, 12 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (A) | 9, 10, 12 | G♭, A♭♭, B♭♭ |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ altered is the seventh mode of F♭ melodic minor, sharing its notes but starting on E♭. It differs from E♭ locrian by one note: the fourth degree is A♭♭ instead of A♭, creating a major 3rd and a diminished 5th. The scale contains a tritone between E♭ and B♭♭.
When to use it
E♭ altered fits E♭ 7th flat 5 and E♭ 7th sharp 5 chords. Use it over dominant chords in G♭ major or C 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 3 and covers frets 1–4 for easy access to the lower register.
Common questions
What notes are in E♭ altered?
E♭ altered contains E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭♭, B♭♭, C♭, and D♭. The intervals are 1, ♭2, ♭3, ♭4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. It has a tritone between E♭ and B♭♭.
How does E♭ altered differ from E♭ locrian?
E♭ altered has A♭♭, while E♭ locrian has A♭. This changes the fourth degree from perfect to augmented. The altered scale is the seventh mode of F♭ melodic minor.