A Ultralocrian Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
A Ultralocrian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Ultralocrian scale is an extremely dark and condensed scale used to create intense chromatic tension. On Guitar, its notes are A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb. It is used in avant-garde jazz and dark ambient music to explore the most dissonant boundaries of minor-key tonality. Commonly used in Avant-Garde, Dark Ambient, Experimental Jazz. Notable players include John Zorn, Derek Bailey. Use over dim7 chords in avant-garde contexts. More of a compositional tool than an improvisational one.
Notes: A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 4d, 5d, 6m, 7d
Degrees: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 7
Formula: H-W-H-W-W-H-WH
Number of notes: 7
Also known as: superlocrian bb7, superlocrian diminished
How to Play A Ultralocrian on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 5 on the 6th (low E) to find your A root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is open position using open A string.
The A Ultralocrian scale contains 4 flats (Bb, Db, Eb, Gb). Its relative major is C major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the A Ultralocrian scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A to let the characteristic intervals of the Ultralocrian scale come through clearly.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the A Ultralocrian scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications.
The A Ultralocrian scale contains 7 notes (A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Ultralocrian
The A Ultralocrian scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore A Ultralocrian Further
- Harmonize the A Ultralocrian scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- A Ultralocrian on Ukulele
- A Ultralocrian on Bass
- A Ultralocrian on Piano
Explore A Ultralocrian in Other Tunings
- A Ultralocrian in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Ultralocrian in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- A Ultralocrian in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- A Ultralocrian in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- A Ultralocrian in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- A Ultralocrian in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- A Ultralocrian in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- A Ultralocrian in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- A Ultralocrian in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- A Ultralocrian in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- A Ultralocrian in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- A Ultralocrian in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- A Ultralocrian in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Ultralocrian in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)