A# Ultralocrian Guitar Scale — Drop C

Guitar scale in Drop C tuning — fretboard diagram

A# Ultralocrian in Drop C — 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#, B, C#, D, E, F#, G. 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#, B, C#, D, E, F#, G

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

Tuning: Drop C (C-G-C-F-A-D)

Also known as: superlocrian bb7, superlocrian diminished

About Drop C Tuning

Drop C tuning (C-G-C-F-A-D) drops every string one whole step below Drop D, delivering a massive, brutal low-end that has defined the sound of modern metalcore, post-hardcore, and nu-metal. The low C string provides earth-shaking power chords with a single finger while maintaining familiar Drop D shapes — just two frets lower.

From System of a Down's iconic riffs to Killswitch Engage's crushing breakdowns, Drop C has become the standard tuning for heavy music that needs to sound bigger than standard Drop D. It bridges the gap between standard guitar territory and the extended range of 7-string guitars, making it accessible to players who want heavier tones without buying a new instrument.

MetalcorePost-HardcoreNu-MetalHeavy AlternativeDjent-lite

Notable artists: System of a Down, Killswitch Engage, Bullet for My Valentine, As I Lay Dying, August Burns Red

Best for: Modern metalcore breakdowns, heavy power chord riffs, nu-metal grooves, and aggressive rhythm playing

Explore This Scale in Other Tunings

← All Guitar scales in Drop C tuning