fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON TENOR SAXOPHONE

F 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

Playback sounds an octave + major 2nd below the written notation — the instrument's concert (sounding) pitch.

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

Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title F Altered Verovio
Keyboard
FB𝄫C♭FB𝄫C♭FB𝄫C♭FG♭A♭D♭E♭G♭A♭D♭E♭G♭A♭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 F Altered scale?

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

What chords work over F 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 F Altered on Tenor Saxophone?

On saxophone, scales train fingering + the altissimo register. Practice the entire range — low Bb through high F (or higher with altissimo fingerings) — at each scale.

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.