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

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

FingeringFollows the scale as it plays — written pitch, matches the staff
A♯DDCCAAC♯C♯wwB♭B♭BBCCDDE♭E♭E♭E♭C♯C♯B♭B♭EEF♯F♯A♭A♭FFA♭A♭
Related scales
Diatonic chord harmonisation
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
Compare with
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.