Ab Super Locrian (Altered Scale)
Notes in the Ab Super Locrian (Altered Scale)
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| ♭2 | Altered 2nd | A | 440.000 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | B | 493.883 Hz |
| ♭4 | Altered 4th | C | 261.626 Hz |
| ♭5 | Tritone | D | 293.665 Hz |
| ♭6 | Altered 6th | E | 329.628 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | Gb | 369.994 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Ab | A |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | A | B |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | B | C |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | C | D |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D | E |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | E | Gb |
| 7 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Gb | Ab |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ab | Ab diminished | diminished |
| ♭2 | A | A minor | minor |
| ♭3 | B | B minor | minor |
| ♭4 | C | C augmented | augmented |
| ♭5 | D | D | major |
| ♭6 | E | E | major |
| ♭7 | Gb | Gb diminished | diminished |
Key Signature
4 ♭ — The Ab key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db.
Ab Super Locrian (Altered Scale) in Practice
The Ab Super Locrian (Altered Scale) uses the key signature of 4 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db). Ab major has four flats and a full, somewhat dark sound. It is a common key in Romantic piano music and is frequently encountered in orchestral and choral writing. On guitar, Ab positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.
The Super Locrian (or Altered scale) is mode VII of melodic minor. It contains every possible alteration of the dominant scale and is the definitive jazz scale for altered dominant chord resolution.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| Gb | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Ab Super Locrian (Altered Scale)
Ab is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce Ab concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in Ab sound a major sixth lower.