C# Altered Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagram
C# Altered Scale — Notes and Intervals
The C# Altered scale is the ultimate dominant scale in jazz. On Ukulele, its notes are C#, D, E, F, G, A, B. 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: C#, D, E, F, G, A, B
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
Also known as: super locrian, diminished whole tone, pomeroy
How to Play C# Altered on Ukulele
On ukulele, find C# on the open strings or work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 7 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The C# Altered scale contains 1 sharp (C#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the C# Altered scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (C#-E, D-F) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Exotic scales like the Altered often work best as a melodic layer over a single root drone on C#. Let the unique intervals speak for themselves without frequent chord changes.
Ukulele Tips
The compact fretboard of the ukulele makes the C# Altered scale easy to visualize in a single position. Use this to your advantage by memorizing the scale shape relative to chord shapes you already know.
The C# Altered scale contains 7 notes (C#, D, E, F, G, A, B). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for C# Altered
The C# Altered 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 C# Altered Further
- Harmonize the C# Altered scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- C# Altered on Guitar
- C# Altered on Bass
- C# Altered on Piano