fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON BASS TROMBONE

D Altered

All four altered tensions — ♭9 ♯9 ♯11 ♭13 — over a dominant 7th. The 7th mode of melodic minor.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
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Meter:Octave per barCrotchets in 4/4Quavers in 4/4Triplets in 4/4
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 3 title D Altered
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 2 3 title D Altered
Verovio
Tempo120 bpm

Audio source: synthesised in-browser via Tone.js (MIT)

FingeringFollows the scale as it plays — written pitch, matches the staff
DF triggerFG♭ triggerG♭1234567partial 2
Harmonic seriesTube of the tonic fingering — D sounds partial 2
partial 1 — D1 (+0¢)1partial 2 — D2 (+0¢)2partial 3 — A2 (+2¢)3partial 4 — D3 (+0¢)4partial 5 — F♯3 (-14¢)5partial 6 — A3 (+2¢)6partial 7 — C4 (-31¢)7-31¢partial 8 — D4 (+0¢)8
Related scales
Diatonic chord harmonisation
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
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Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the D Altered scale?

The D Altered scale uses the notes D, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What's the Altered scale formula?

The Altered scale follows the interval pattern H W H W W W W, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on D to get the D Altered scale.

What chords work over D Altered?

Altered works over V7alt — ♭9, ♯9, ♯11, ♭13. The 7th mode of melodic minor; resolves down a half step to the I chord.

How do I finger D Altered on Bass Trombone?

On brass, scales train embouchure + valve / slide coordination across the partials. Slow practice with a tuner reveals intonation tendencies (e.g., the 5th partial sharp on trumpet).

When would I use the Altered scale?

All four altered tensions — ♭9 ♯9 ♯11 ♭13 — over a dominant 7th. The 7th mode of melodic minor.