• How To Use The Altered Scale Over Different Chords

    in Scales

    bandbig.jpgI’m back!

    Things have been so hectic. From the launch of GMTC to server problems and Thanksgiving, I’ve had enough to keep me busy indeed.

    But now, my head is clear and I’m ready to go full force!

    Recall, the other day, I taught you the altered scale (a.k.a. – the ‘super locrian‘ mode)

    You’ll really want to check out this past post if you haven’t already. You’ll be lost if you don’t.

    You learned, step-by-step, how to play the altered scale.

    It’s basically any melodic minor scale played from the 7th tone to the 7th tone (… in other words, instead of starting and ending on the first tone of the scale like you’d normally do, you start and end on the 7th tone of the SAME scale. It gives it a totally different feel). So in essence, we’re mixing together two past ideas you’ve already learned: 1) the melodic minor scale and, 2) modes.

    So here’s the “B Super Locrian” scale you learned from my previous post:

    Now, let’s take it a step further and show you how to multiply your usage of scales, modes, and “runs.”

    In my last lesson, I explained that you can play this scale pretty much over any of these types of chords:

    B7 #9#5
    B7 b9 #5
    B7 b9
    B7 #9
    B7 #5

    …Basically, any chord with a sharp or flat 9 or a sharp or flat 5… essentially, some of the most commonly used “altered” chords (thus the name, “altered scale”).

    Why? Because those are the tones represented in the scale (if you write the scale degree numbers out)…

    Altered / Super Locrian scale = 1, b9, #9, 3, b5, #5, b7

    But these aren’t the only chords you can use this scale with…

    Remember the concept of “tritones?” I taught this a few months back.

    Every note has another note that’s a “tritone” away in distance. I told you to memorize these “pairs” as if your music career depended on it — because they’re used EVERYWHERE!

    I don’t have enough space to talk about tritones in depth but check out this past lesson and similar ones in my archives.

    So in order to find out where else you can use this “B super locrian” (a.k.a – “B altered scale”), among many places, ask yourself this question…

    “What is a tritone away from B?”

    Hint: A tritone is either 3 whole steps up or 3 whole steps down… you’ll arrive at the same place!

    The answer is: F

    F is a tritone away from B and they collectively create a tritone if you play them together (“B + F”).

    So that means you can play the same scale over an F dominant chord (or even altered chord but you may have to omit some “avoid notes.”). I personally prefer a dominant 13 chord or some type of extended dominant chord (9th, 11th, 13th, etc).

    Example:

    F9 (add 13)

    (F not shown but play it on your bass)

    And you can use the same “B altered / super locrian” scale from above to solo over it:

    Why does this work so well?

    Because if you simply keep the chord the same and only change your bass from “F” to “B,” you’ll be back to a “B7 #9#5” altered chord and as you know from the list of chords above, it’s one of the ones the work really well with the altered scale.

    B7 (#9#5)
    (B not shown but play it on your bass)

    Note: This is actually how all dominant chords work. If you just keep your right-hand chord the same and switch your bass to a "tritone" away, you'll have two chords that can be substituted for each other! Works most of the time… like a charm! We call this idea… "tritone substitutions.”

    See… I told you this post would be detailed! Just making up for a few MIA days!

    Take it slowly. Repeat it if you have to.

    Until next time —

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    Hi, I'm Jermaine Griggs, founder of this site. We teach people how to express themselves through the language of music. Just as you talk and listen freely, music can be enjoyed and played in the same way... if you know the rules of the "language!" I started this site at 17 years old in August 2000 and more than a decade later, we've helped literally millions of musicians along the way. Enjoy!




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