A# Altered Guitar Scale

A# Altered in Open A — Notes and Intervals

The A# Altered scale is the ultimate dominant scale in jazz. On Guitar, its notes are A#, B, B##, D, E, F#, G#. It contains every possible altered tension, making it sound extremely dissonant and complex. It is used by professional improvisers to create maximum tension over a dominant chord before a satisfying resolution. Commonly used in Jazz, Fusion, Post-Bop, Contemporary. Notable players include John Coltrane, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Chick Corea. Use over 7alt, 7#9, 7b9, 7#5, 7b5 chords. The definitive scale for altered dominant chords that resolve to minor. Play C Altered over C7alt resolving to Fm.

Notes: A#, B, B##, D, E, F#, G#

Intervals: 1P, 2m, 2A, 3M, 4A, 6m, 7m

Degrees: 1 b2 #3 4 #5 b6 b7

Formula: H-W-H-W-W-W-W

Number of notes: 7

Tuning: Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)

Also known as: super locrian, diminished whole tone, pomeroy

Explore This Scale in Other Tunings

• A# Altered in Standard Tuning
• A# Altered in Drop D
• A# Altered in DADGAD
• A# Altered in Open G
• A# Altered in Baritone (B Standard)
• A# Altered in 7-string
• A# Altered in 8-string
• A# Altered in Drop C
• A# Altered in Drop B
• A# Altered in Open D
• A# Altered in Half Step Down
• A# Altered in Open E
• A# Altered in Double Drop D
• A# Altered in Open C

← All Guitar scales in Open A tuning