A Ultralocrian Piano Scale
Piano scale diagramAdvanced
A Ultralocrian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Ultralocrian scale is an extremely dark and condensed scale used to create intense chromatic tension. On Piano, 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
Musical Character
The darkest mode of the harmonic minor — so dark it has a diminished 4th (bb7), making it almost chromatic. Used to push dissonance to its absolute limit.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Avant-Garde, Dark Ambient, Experimental Jazz
Notable players: John Zorn, Derek Bailey
How to Use the A Ultralocrian Scale
Use over dim7 chords in avant-garde contexts. More of a compositional tool than an improvisational one.
Origin & Background
The seventh mode of the harmonic minor scale. Explores the most dissonant extreme of minor-key tonality.
How to Play A Ultralocrian on Piano
On piano, the A Ultralocrian scale uses 4 black keys. With several black keys involved, let the thumb naturally fall on white keys where possible. Practice hands separately at first, paying attention to smooth thumb-under transitions.
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
Practice the A Ultralocrian scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 100 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 7 notes of the scale.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A to let the characteristic intervals of the Ultralocrian scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in experimental jazz contexts.
Piano Tips
At the piano, try voicing the A Ultralocrian scale in the left hand as blocked intervals (thirds or sixths) while the right hand plays the melody. This develops your harmonic ear and comping skills simultaneously. Aim for a extremely dark quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Ultralocrian is the 7th mode of the Harmonic Minor scale. View A Harmonic minor scale
The A Ultralocrian scale contains 7 notes (A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb). Use the interactive piano diagram above to explore this scale on Piano.