Colour key
R234p567Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.
A Ultralocrian
♭♭7 (a diminished 7th) on top of ♭4 and ♭5. Maximum tension.
Where you hear it: Over dim7 chords.
Step pattern H – W – H – W – W – H – W+H
- Parent scale: B♭ harmonic minor (starts on its 7th degree)
- Compared with A major: ♭2 B → B♭, ♭3 C♯ → C, ♭4 D → D♭, ♭5 E → E♭, ♭6 F♯ → F, ♭♭7 G♯ → G♭
- Compared with A natural minor: ♭2 B → B♭, ♭4 D → D♭, ♭5 E → E♭, ♭7 G → G♭
A Ultralocrian on the guitar
Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.
in the pentatonic r ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭♭7: playedother notes of Ultralocrian: 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 A Ultralocrian
Every chord in A Ultralocrian
- Adim71/4easyfret 7
- B♭m(maj7)1/4mediumfret 1
- Cm7♭51/14easyfret 3· shell
- D♭maj7♯51/9easyfret 9· shell
- E♭m71/23easyfret 6· shell
- F71/17easyfret 1· shell
- G♭maj71/16easyfret 2· shell
Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.
Iconic progressions in A Ultralocrian
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 most tense of the 21 modes: treat it as a colour more than a key. A diminished 7th tonic and a dominant 7th on the ♭6 is a short, strange vamp.
i° – ♭ii
Two tense chords a half step apart, the diminished 7th home and the minor-major ♭ii. Nothing here settles.
Sus and extension chords from each chord
From Adim 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 A Ultralocrian.
Hover or focus a small bubble for what it is, click to keep the note open.
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.