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♯° | B♯ø7 |
| ii | C♯m | C♯m(maj7) |
| iii | D♯m | D♯m7 |
| IV+ | E+ | E7♯5 |
| V | F♯ | F♯7 |
| VI | G♯ | G♯7 |
| vii° | A♯° | A♯ø7 |
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♯°, C♯m, D♯m, E+, F♯, G♯, A♯°.
More B♯ scales
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.