B Super Locrian (Altered Scale)
Notes in the B Super Locrian (Altered Scale)
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | B | 493.883 Hz |
| ♭2 | Altered 2nd | C | 261.626 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | D | 293.665 Hz |
| ♭4 | Altered 4th | D# | 311.127 Hz |
| ♭5 | Tritone | F | 349.228 Hz |
| ♭6 | Altered 6th | G | 391.995 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | A | 440.000 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | B | C |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | C | D |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | D | D# |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D# | F |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F | G |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | G | A |
| 7 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | A | B |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | B diminished | diminished |
| ♭2 | C | C minor | minor |
| ♭3 | D | D minor | minor |
| ♭4 | D# | D# augmented | augmented |
| ♭5 | F | F | major |
| ♭6 | G | G | major |
| ♭7 | A | A diminished | diminished |
Key Signature
5 ♯ — The B key signature uses F#, C#, G#, D#, A#.
B Super Locrian (Altered Scale) in Practice
The B Super Locrian (Altered Scale) uses the key signature of 5 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#). B major has five sharps and a bright, somewhat tense quality. Enharmonically equivalent to Cb major, it is used in orchestral writing and some jazz compositions. On guitar, B positions offer open-string resonance for fingering positions 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| D# | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
Related Scales
Guitar: B Super Locrian (Altered Scale) Positions
The B key offers 5 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like B are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.