A# Super Locrian Pentatonic Mandolin Scale
Mandolin scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
A# Super Locrian Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A# Super Locrian Pentatonic scale is an aggressive and highly dissonant subset of the altered scale. On Mandolin, it contains the notes A#, C#, D, E, G#. It is a primary tool for advanced jazz guitarists and horn players to create outside tension over altered dominant chords before resolving back to the tonic. Commonly used in Jazz, Avant-Garde, Fusion. Notable players include John Coltrane, Michael Brecker. Use over 7alt, 7#9b13 chords. The pentatonic shortcut for maximum 'outside' tension over altered dominants.
Notes: A#, C#, D, E, G#
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 4d, 5d, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 b5
Formula: WH-H-W-4-W
Number of notes: 5
Musical Character
The most dissonant pentatonic — a 5-note distillation of the Altered scale. Every note creates tension against a dominant chord.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Jazz, Avant-Garde, Fusion
Notable players: John Coltrane, Michael Brecker
How to Use the A# Super Locrian Pentatonic Scale
Use over 7alt, 7#9b13 chords. The pentatonic shortcut for maximum 'outside' tension over altered dominants.
Origin & Background
Advanced jazz pentatonic extracted from the Super Locrian / Altered scale for efficient improvisation.
How to Play A# Super Locrian Pentatonic on Mandolin
Begin by locating A# on your instrument and play through the 5 notes of the Super Locrian Pentatonic scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The A# Super Locrian Pentatonic scale contains 3 sharps (A#, C#, G#). 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 A# Super Locrian Pentatonic 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.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in A#. Try a A#5 - E5 - G#5 progression. This scale is especially effective in avant-garde contexts.
Mandolin Tips
Practice the A# Super Locrian Pentatonic scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 5 notes before building speed. Aim for a aggressive quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Super Locrian Pentatonic is the Altered scale pentatonic subset. View A# Altered scale
The A# Super Locrian Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (A#, C#, D, E, G#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Mandolin with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A# Super Locrian Pentatonic
The A# Super Locrian Pentatonic 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 5-note pentatonic scale, 2-notes-per-string patterns are the most ergonomic way to traverse the fretboard. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore A# Super Locrian Pentatonic Further
- Browse chord progressions
- A# Super Locrian Pentatonic on Guitar
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- A# Super Locrian Pentatonic on Bass
- A# Super Locrian Pentatonic on Piano