fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON BASSOON

A Altered

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

MEIMIDIHumdrum
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Tempo120 bpm

Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)

Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title A Altered Verovio
Keyboard
ACFGACFGACFGAB♭D♭E♭B♭D♭E♭B♭D♭E♭
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 A Altered scale?

The A Altered scale uses the notes A, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G (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 A to get the A Altered scale.

What chords work over A 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 A Altered on Bassoon?

On double reeds, scales train reed control + register changes + the half-hole / full-hole register transition. Slow practice exposes pitch instability the player can correct with embouchure.

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.