THEORY HELPERA Altered (Super Locrian) Scale
Dominant altered, dissonant
What is the A Altered (Super Locrian) Scale?
The Altered scale (7th mode of melodic minor) contains every possible alteration of a dominant chord: b9, #9, #11, and b13. It creates maximum tension before resolution, essential for modern jazz dominant chord playing.
Interval Pattern: H-W-H-W-W-W-W
Scale Notes and Intervals
A Altered (Super Locrian)
TenseA 1
Bb 2
C 3
Db 4
Eb 5
F 6
G 7
Notes:
A -Bb -C -Db -Eb -F -G
Intervals:
HWHWWW W
Keyboard Visualization
How to Play A Altered (Super Locrian) on Piano
Scale Properties
Mood
TenseCharacter
Dominant altered, dissonantGenres
Jazz, FusionNotes in Scale
7 notes: A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, GCategory
JazzIntervals
H-W-H-W-W-W-WHistory and Origins
The Background of the Altered (Super Locrian) Scale
Derived from the melodic minor scale, it became central to bebop and post-bop jazz. Musicians like John Coltrane and Michael Brecker made it a cornerstone of their harmonic vocabulary for creating tension before resolution.
Musical Characteristics
Key Features of the A Altered (Super Locrian) Scale
- All altered tensions on a dominant chord
- b9, #9, #11, b13 all present
- 7th mode of melodic minor
- Maximum tension before resolution
Famous Songs Using This Scale
Popular Tracks in A Altered (Super Locrian)
- Giant Steps - John Coltrane (over dominant chords)
- Donna Lee (bebop alterations)
- Moment's Notice - John Coltrane
Playing Tips
How to Practice the A Altered (Super Locrian) Scale
Think melodic minor a half step up. Use over V7 chords resolving to minor or major. The more you lean into the alterations, the more tension you create. Essential for modern jazz.
Circle of Fifths Position
A in the Circle of Fifths
Major
Minor
Selected