A Altered Scale (Superlocrian) on Guitar

The A Altered Scale (Superlocrian) is a 7-note scale (over altered dominant chords (7alt)) built from the formula 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7. Its notes are A B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G. Below you'll find the scale on the whole fretboard, the chords that belong to it and related scales — open it in the interactive fretboard for 3NPS, CAGED and pentatonic box patterns with playback.

Notes and intervals

DegreeNoteInterval
1Aroot
♭2B♭Minor 2nd
♭3CMinor 3rd
♭4D♭Diminished 4th
♭5E♭Diminished 5th (tritone)
♭6FMinor 6th
♭7GMinor 7th

Steps: H – W – H – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step)

A Altered Scale (Superlocrian) on the fretboard (15 frets)

A Altered Scale (Superlocrian) – guitar fretboardEADGBEF♭6G♭7A1B♭♭2C♭3D♭♭4E♭♭5F♭6G♭7A1B♭♭2C♭3D♭♭4E♭♭5F♭6G♭7A1B♭♭2C♭3E♭♭5F♭6G♭7A1B♭♭2C♭3D♭♭4E♭♭5F♭6G♭7A1B♭♭2C♭3D♭♭4E♭♭5F♭6G♭7A1B♭♭2C♭3D♭♭4E♭♭5F♭6G♭7A1B♭♭2C♭3D♭♭4F♭6G♭7A1B♭♭2C♭3D♭♭4E♭♭5F♭6G♭7123456789101112131415

Standard tuning E A D G B E. Pink = root, purple = characteristic notes. 3NPS, CAGED and box patterns plus other tunings are in the interactive fretboard.

Chords in the scale

Other scales from A

Altered (Superlocrian) in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the A Altered Scale (Superlocrian)?
The A Altered Scale (Superlocrian) has 7 notes: A, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G. Its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
What intervals make up the A Altered Scale (Superlocrian)?
Step pattern: H – W – H – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Intervals from the root: ♭2 (Minor 2nd), ♭3 (Minor 3rd), ♭4 (Diminished 4th), ♭5 (Diminished 5th (tritone)), ♭6 (Minor 6th), ♭7 (Minor 7th).
What chords are in the A Altered Scale (Superlocrian)?
Triads: A°, B♭m, Cm, D♭+, E♭, F, G°. Seventh chords: Am7♭5, B♭m(maj7), Cm7, D♭maj7♯5, E♭7, F7, Gm7♭5.