Colour key
R234p567Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.
C 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: D♭ harmonic minor (starts on its 7th degree)
- Compared with C major: ♭2 D → D♭, ♭3 E → E♭, ♭4 F → F♭, ♭5 G → G♭, ♭6 A → A♭, ♭♭7 B → B♭♭
- Compared with C natural minor: ♭2 D → D♭, ♭4 F → F♭, ♭5 G → G♭, ♭7 B♭ → B♭♭
C 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 C Ultralocrian
Every chord in C Ultralocrian
- Cdim71/4easyfret 10
- D♭m(maj7)1/4mediumfret 4
- E♭m7♭51/14easyfret 1
- F♭maj7♯51/9easyfret 12· shell
- G♭m71/23easyfret 2· shell
- A♭71/17easyfret 1· shell
- B♭♭maj71/18easyopen
Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.
Iconic progressions in C 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 Cdim 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 C Ultralocrian.
Hover or focus a small bubble for what it is, click to keep the note open.
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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.