F# Ultralocrian Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagram
F# Ultralocrian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The F# Ultralocrian scale is an extremely dark and condensed scale used to create intense chromatic tension. On Ukulele, its notes are F#, G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb. 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: F#, G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb
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 F# Ultralocrian on Ukulele
On ukulele, find F# on the fret 5 area, and 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 F# Ultralocrian scale contains both sharps and flats (1 sharp, 2 flats), which is common in altered and exotic scales. Its relative major is A major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the F# 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 F# to let the characteristic intervals of the Ultralocrian scale come through clearly.
Ukulele Tips
The compact fretboard of the ukulele makes the F# Ultralocrian 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 F# Ultralocrian scale contains 7 notes (F#, G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for F# Ultralocrian
The F# 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 F# Ultralocrian Further
- Harmonize the F# Ultralocrian scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- F# Ultralocrian on Guitar
- F# Ultralocrian on Bass
- F# Ultralocrian on Piano