Notes in the B Altered scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Tonic |
| ♭2 | C | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | D | Mediant |
| ♭4 | E♭ | Subdominant |
| ♭5 | F | Dominant |
| ♭6 | G | Submediant |
| ♭7 | A | Subtonic |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: B C D E♭ F G A.
B Altered scale formula
The pattern of steps from one note to the next is H – W – H – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
Chords in the B Altered scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i° | B° | Bø7 |
| ii | Cm | Cm(maj7) |
| iii | Dm | Dm7 |
| IV+ | E♭+ | E♭7♯5 |
| V | F | F7 |
| VI | G | G7 |
| vii° | A° | Aø7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
How to practise the B Altered scale
Learn it as a rotation of a scale you already know (lydian dominant is melodic minor starting on its 4th note, altered starts on its 7th) and play it over the matching chord with a drone on the root.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes in the B Altered scale?
The notes of the B Altered scale are B C D E♭ F G A.
What is the formula for the B Altered scale?
The pattern of whole and half steps is H – W – H – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
What chords are in the B Altered scale?
Built from the scale in triads: B°, Cm, Dm, E♭+, F, G, A°.
More B scales
B Major, B Natural Minor, B Harmonic Minor, B Melodic Minor, B Dorian, B Phrygian, B Lydian, B Mixolydian, B Locrian, B Major Pentatonic, B Minor Pentatonic, B Blues, B Lydian Dominant, B Dorian ♭2, B Mixolydian ♭6, B Locrian ♯2, B Phrygian Dominant, B Hungarian Minor, B Double Harmonic, B Diminished (W–H), B Diminished (H–W), B Bebop Dominant, B Bebop Major
Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.