fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON TUBA

B♯ Altered

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

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

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

FingeringFollows the scale as it plays — written pitch, matches the staff
B♯1234partial 3
Harmonic seriesTube of the tonic fingering — B♯ sounds partial 3
partial 1 — F0 (+0¢)1partial 2 — F1 (+0¢)2partial 3 — C2 (+2¢)3partial 4 — F2 (+0¢)4partial 5 — A2 (-14¢)5partial 6 — C3 (+2¢)6partial 7 — D♯3 (-31¢)7-31¢partial 8 — F3 (+0¢)8partial 9 — G3 (+4¢)9partial 10 — A3 (-14¢)10partial 11 — B3 (-49¢)11-49¢partial 12 — C4 (+2¢)12
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 B♯ Altered scale?

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

What chords work over B♯ 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 B♯ Altered on Tuba?

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.