Colour key
R234p567Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.
E Altered
♭9, ♯9, ♭5 and ♯5: every tension altered. Maximum dominant tension.
Where you hear it: Over 7alt chords resolving to I.
Step pattern H – W – H – W – W – W – W
- Parent scale: F melodic minor (starts on its 7th degree)
- Compared with E major: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭3 G♯ → G, ♭4 A → A♭, ♭5 B → B♭, ♭6 C♯ → C, ♭7 D♯ → D
- Compared with E natural minor: ♭2 F♯ → F, ♭4 A → A♭, ♭5 B → B♭
E Altered on the guitar
Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.
in the pentatonic r ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭7: playedother notes of Altered: not playedPlay runs up the position from its lowest note and back down; Sample melody plays a short tune using only its notes. Tap a position's name to see it on the neck.
Modes with the same notes as E Altered
Every chord in E Altered
- Em7♭51/12easyfret 2
- Fm(maj7)1/6mediumfret 8
- Gm71/15easyfret 3· shell
- A♭maj7♯51/10easyfret 4· shell
- B♭71/20easyfret 3· shell
- C71/21easyopen
- Dm7♭51/15easyfret 5· shell
Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.
Iconic progressions in E Altered
A few well-known chord loops that bring out this scale’s sound. Play one through, or tap a chord to hear it.
i° – ♭VI
The altered scale is made for dominant 7th chords that resolve; played as a home key it is just tension. A half-diminished chord and a ♭VI dominant 7th keep that going.
♭VI – ♭V – i°
Two dominant 7ths sliding down a whole step, then home. Each dominant 7th is a chord the altered scale fits.
Sus and extension chords from each chord
From Edim you can go through the 2nd of the scale to sus2 and 9 chords, through the 4th to sus4 and 11, and so on. All seven chords of E Altered.
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Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
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Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.