Notes in the E♯ Altered scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E♯ | Tonic |
| ♭2 | F♯ | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | G♯ | Mediant |
| ♭4 | A | Subdominant |
| ♭5 | B | Dominant |
| ♭6 | C♯ | Submediant |
| ♭7 | D♯ | Subtonic |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: E♯ F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯.
E♯ 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 E♯ Altered scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i° | E♯° | E♯ø7 |
| ii | F♯m | F♯m(maj7) |
| iii | G♯m | G♯m7 |
| IV+ | A+ | A7♯5 |
| V | B | B7 |
| VI | C♯ | C♯7 |
| vii° | D♯° | D♯ø7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
How to practise the E♯ 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 E♯ Altered scale?
The notes of the E♯ Altered scale are E♯ F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯.
What is the formula for the E♯ 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 E♯ Altered scale?
Built from the scale in triads: E♯°, F♯m, G♯m, A+, B, C♯, D♯°.
More E♯ scales
E♯ Phrygian, E♯ Locrian, E♯ Minor Pentatonic, E♯ Blues
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.