What is an altered scale in music?
The altered scale is a musical scale based loosely on a major scale but with multiple alterations (hence its name). It fits naturally over a dominant chord (V7 chord) that resolves to the tonic (I chord). Like all scales, the altered scale moves in a series of semitones—some whole steps and some half-steps.
How do you write an altered scale?
To find the appropriate notes for an altered scale, simply go up a half step from the root of the chord and play the ascending form of the melodic minor scale (a major scale with a flatted third). So, on G7, you would play Ab melodic minor starting on G, and voila, you’re playing G altered.
What is an altered scale piano?
Altered scales include one or more notes that is lowered or raised compared to its main variation. For example, Altered Locrian b4 that is identical to the Locrian Scale except for the flatted fourth. Altered scales are based on the same principles as altered chords.
What is G7 Alt?
Typically, a dominant seventh chord is considered altered if either or both the 5th or 9th are chromatically raised or lowered. (“G7alt” might mean a G7 with both an altered 5th and 9th, but is vague in that it doesn’t specify how the 5th and 9th are chromatically altered.)
How do you use altered chords?
Altered chords are best used to either pull progressions momentarily out of a strong sense of key, or to provide interesting colour to an otherwise mundane progression. Here’s an example of an altered chord that achieves the first circumstance: pulling the progression away from a key.
What mode is half diminished?
1. The Locrian mode is commonly used over a half diminished chords. Over a B half diminished chord, use the B Locrian Mode (B C D E F G A B).
What is a G7 altered chord?
31.3 Altered Dominant Seventh Chords Typically, a dominant seventh chord is considered altered if either or both the 5th or 9th are chromatically raised or lowered. (“G7alt” might mean a G7 with both an altered 5th and 9th, but is vague in that it doesn’t specify how the 5th and 9th are chromatically altered.)
What is the altered scale?
What Is the Altered Scale? 1 the root. 2 flat two (♭2)—also referred to as flat nine (♭9) 3 sharp two (♯2)—also referred to as sharp nine (♯9) 4 major third. 5 flat five (b5)—also referred to as sharp eleven (♯11) or the tritone of the scale. 6 flat six (♭6)—also referred to as flat thirteen (♭13) 7 flat seven (♭7)
How do you make an altered scale in music?
Another way to obtain the altered scale is by raising the tonic of a major scale by a half step. For example taking the tonic of the B-major scale, and raising the tonic by a half step produces the scale C–C ♯ –D ♯ –E–F ♯ –G ♯ –A ♯ –C.
What does the altered scale sound like over a dominant?
In terms of the generated sound, the altered scale produces one of the most complex sounds possible over a dominant. It is important to highlight here that playing the altered scale on top of an unaltered dominant can result in an unpleasant dissonance depending on the context.
Is the altered scale the same as Locrian?
The C altered scale is also enharmonically equivalent to the C Locrian mode with F changed to F ♭. For this reason, the altered scale is sometimes called the super-Locrian scale or the Locrian flat four scale. It is also enharmonically the seventh mode of the ascending melodic minor scale.