B altered (super Locrian) scale
The B altered (super Locrian) scale is made of the notes B, C, D, E♭, F, G, A. It has 7 notes; compared with the major scale its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
Modes of the melodic minor · 7 notes
- 1B
- ♭2C
- ♭3D
- ♭4E♭
- ♭5F
- ♭6G
- ♭7A
PatternH – W – H – W – W – W – W(W = whole step, H = half step)
The seven scales you get by starting from each degree of the melodic minor: the language of modern jazz, from the Lydian dominant to the altered scale. Degrees are shown relative to the major scale: ♭3 is the third lowered by a half step, ♯4 the fourth raised.
Mode and chords
The seventh mode of the melodic minor: it contains the ♭9, ♯9, ♯11 and ♭13 of the dominant chord. It is the jazz scale for the altered dominant (7alt) that resolves.
The B altered (super Locrian) scale is mode 7 of the C melodic minor scale: the same notes, starting from degree 7. C melodic minor scale →
Put it into practice
The scale played in thirds over one octave: one of the exercises MEG generates from this scale.
This scale is not part of the demo: in the MEG app you will find it in every key, with 24 patterns.
Chords built on the scale
Frequently asked questions
- What are the notes of the B altered (super Locrian) scale?
- The notes are B, C, D, E♭, F, G, A.
- What is the pattern of the B altered (super Locrian) scale?
- The sequence of steps 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.
- Which scale is the B altered (super Locrian) scale a mode of?
- It is mode 7 of the C melodic minor scale.
- Which chords is the B altered (super Locrian) scale used over?
- It is used over B7♯5, Bm7♭5: the chords on the tonic made of the notes of the scale.