B Ultralocrian
Bass scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
B Ultralocrian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Ultralocrian scale is an extremely dark and condensed scale used to create intense chromatic tension. On Bass, its notes are B, C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab. It is used in avant-garde jazz and dark ambient music to explore the most dissonant boundaries of minor-key tonality. Commonly used in Avant-Garde, Dark Ambient, Experimental Jazz. Notable players include John Zorn, Derek Bailey. Use over dim7 chords in avant-garde contexts. More of a compositional tool than an improvisational one.
Notes: B, C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 4d, 5d, 6m, 7d
Degrees: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 7
Formula: H-W-H-W-W-H-WH
Number of notes: 7
Also known as: superlocrian bb7, superlocrian diminished
Musical Character
The darkest mode of the harmonic minor — so dark it has a diminished 4th (bb7), making it almost chromatic. Used to push dissonance to its absolute limit.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Avant-Garde, Dark Ambient, Experimental Jazz
Notable players: John Zorn, Derek Bailey
How to Use the B Ultralocrian Scale
Use over dim7 chords in avant-garde contexts. More of a compositional tool than an improvisational one.
Origin & Background
The seventh mode of the harmonic minor scale. Explores the most dissonant extreme of minor-key tonality.
Related Scales
Ultralocrian is the 7th mode of the Harmonic Minor scale. View B Harmonic minor scale
The B Ultralocrian scale contains 7 notes (B, C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.