E Altered Banjo (5-String) Scale
Banjo (5-String) scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
E Altered Scale — Notes and Intervals
The E Altered scale is the ultimate dominant scale in jazz. On Banjo (5-String), its notes are E, F, G, G#, A#, C, D. It contains every possible altered tension, making it sound extremely dissonant and complex. It is used by professional improvisers to create maximum tension over a dominant chord before a satisfying resolution. Commonly used in Jazz, Fusion, Post-Bop, Contemporary. Notable players include John Coltrane, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Chick Corea. Use over 7alt, 7#9, 7b9, 7#5, 7b5 chords. The definitive scale for altered dominant chords that resolve to minor. Play C Altered over C7alt resolving to Fm.
Notes: E, F, G, G#, A#, C, D
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 2A, 3M, 4A, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 #3 4 #5 b6 b7
Formula: H-W-H-W-W-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Also known as: super locrian, diminished whole tone, pomeroy
Musical Character
Contains every possible altered tension (b9, #9, b5, #5) over a dominant chord. It is the ultimate 'tension before resolution' scale — play it on V7 and resolve to I for maximum drama.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Jazz, Fusion, Post-Bop, Contemporary
Notable players: John Coltrane, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Chick Corea
How to Use the E Altered Scale
Use over 7alt, 7#9, 7b9, 7#5, 7b5 chords. The definitive scale for altered dominant chords that resolve to minor. Play C Altered over C7alt resolving to Fm.
Origin & Background
Also called Super Locrian or Diminished Whole Tone. The crown jewel of jazz theory — understanding this scale unlocks professional-level improvisation.
How to Play E Altered on Banjo (5-String)
Begin by locating E on your instrument and play through the 7 notes of the Altered scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The E Altered scale contains 2 sharps (G#, A#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 100 BPM and play the E Altered scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Exotic scales like the Altered often work best as a melodic layer over a single root drone on E. Let the unique intervals speak for themselves without frequent chord changes. This scale is especially effective in jazz contexts.
Banjo (5-String) Tips
Practice the E Altered scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 7 notes before building speed. Aim for a dissonant quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Altered is the 7th mode of the Melodic Minor scale (Super Locrian). View E Melodic minor scale
The E Altered scale contains 7 notes (E, F, G, G#, A#, C, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Banjo (5-String) with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Altered
The E Altered scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore E Altered Further
- E Altered arpeggio on Banjo (5-String)
- Browse chord progressions
- E Altered on Guitar
- E Altered on Ukulele
- E Altered on Bass
- E Altered on Piano