Bb Super Locrian (Altered Scale)
Notes in the Bb Super Locrian (Altered Scale)
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Bb | 466.164 Hz |
| ♭2 | Altered 2nd | B | 493.883 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | Db | 277.183 Hz |
| ♭4 | Altered 4th | D | 293.665 Hz |
| ♭5 | Tritone | E | 329.628 Hz |
| ♭6 | Altered 6th | Gb | 369.994 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Bb | B |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B | Db |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Db | D |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D | E |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | E | Gb |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Gb | Ab |
| 7 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Ab | Bb |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bb | Bb diminished | diminished |
| ♭2 | B | B minor | minor |
| ♭3 | Db | Db minor | minor |
| ♭4 | D | D augmented | augmented |
| ♭5 | E | E | major |
| ♭6 | Gb | Gb | major |
| ♭7 | Ab | Ab diminished | diminished |
Key Signature
2 ♭ — The Bb key signature uses Bb, Eb.
Bb Super Locrian (Altered Scale) in Practice
The Bb Super Locrian (Altered Scale) uses the key signature of 2 flats (Bb, Eb). Bb major has two flats (Bb, Eb) and is extremely common in jazz and wind ensemble music. It is the home key for Bb instruments such as the trumpet and tenor saxophone. On guitar, Bb 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bb | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| Db | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 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 |
| Ab | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Bb Super Locrian (Altered Scale)
Bb 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 Bb concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in Bb sound a major sixth lower.