C# Altered Scale Charts
Explore C# Altered across the full guitar fretboard and 7 connected positions. Notes: C#, D, E, F, G, A, B. Intervals: 1, b2, #2, 3, b5, #5, b7.
C# Altered full fretboard chart
C# Altered uses C#, D, E, F, G, A, B across frets 0-15.
| String | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | #2E | 3F | b5G | #5A | b7B | RC# | b2D | #2E | 3F | b5G | ||||||
| 2B | b7B | RC# | b2D | #2E | 3F | b5G | #5A | b7B | RC# | b2D | ||||||
| 3G | b5G | #5A | b7B | RC# | b2D | #2E | 3F | b5G | #5A | |||||||
| 4D | b2D | #2E | 3F | b5G | #5A | b7B | RC# | b2D | #2E | 3F | ||||||
| 5A | #5A | b7B | RC# | b2D | #2E | 3F | b5G | #5A | b7B | |||||||
| 6E | #2E | 3F | b5G | #5A | b7B | RC# | b2D | #2E | 3F | b5G | ||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
String 1: E4 at fret 0 (#2), F4 at fret 1 (3), G4 at fret 3 (b5), A4 at fret 5 (#5), B4 at fret 7 (b7), C#5 at fret 9 (root), D5 at fret 10 (b2), E5 at fret 12 (#2), F5 at fret 13 (3), G5 at fret 15 (b5).
String 2: B3 at fret 0 (b7), C#4 at fret 2 (root), D4 at fret 3 (b2), E4 at fret 5 (#2), F4 at fret 6 (3), G4 at fret 8 (b5), A4 at fret 10 (#5), B4 at fret 12 (b7), C#5 at fret 14 (root), D5 at fret 15 (b2).
String 3: G3 at fret 0 (b5), A3 at fret 2 (#5), B3 at fret 4 (b7), C#4 at fret 6 (root), D4 at fret 7 (b2), E4 at fret 9 (#2), F4 at fret 10 (3), G4 at fret 12 (b5), A4 at fret 14 (#5).
String 4: D3 at fret 0 (b2), E3 at fret 2 (#2), F3 at fret 3 (3), G3 at fret 5 (b5), A3 at fret 7 (#5), B3 at fret 9 (b7), C#4 at fret 11 (root), D4 at fret 12 (b2), E4 at fret 14 (#2), F4 at fret 15 (3).
String 5: A2 at fret 0 (#5), B2 at fret 2 (b7), C#3 at fret 4 (root), D3 at fret 5 (b2), E3 at fret 7 (#2), F3 at fret 8 (3), G3 at fret 10 (b5), A3 at fret 12 (#5), B3 at fret 14 (b7).
String 6: E2 at fret 0 (#2), F2 at fret 1 (3), G2 at fret 3 (b5), A2 at fret 5 (#5), B2 at fret 7 (b7), C#3 at fret 9 (root), D3 at fret 10 (b2), E3 at fret 12 (#2), F3 at fret 13 (3), G3 at fret 15 (b5).
C# Altered Position 1 chart
Position 1 covers frets 9-13 for C# Altered.
| String | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | RC# | b2D | #2E | 3F | |
| 2B | #5A | b7B | |||
| 3G | #2E | 3F | b5G | ||
| 4D | b7B | RC# | b2D | ||
| 5A | b5G | #5A | |||
| 6E | RC# | b2D | #2E | 3F | |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
String 1: C#5 at fret 9 (root), D5 at fret 10 (b2), E5 at fret 12 (#2), F5 at fret 13 (3).
String 2: A4 at fret 10 (#5), B4 at fret 12 (b7).
String 3: E4 at fret 9 (#2), F4 at fret 10 (3), G4 at fret 12 (b5).
String 4: B3 at fret 9 (b7), C#4 at fret 11 (root), D4 at fret 12 (b2).
String 5: G3 at fret 10 (b5), A3 at fret 12 (#5).
String 6: C#3 at fret 9 (root), D3 at fret 10 (b2), E3 at fret 12 (#2), F3 at fret 13 (3).
C# Altered Position 2 chart
Position 2 covers frets 7-11 for C# Altered.
| String | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | b7B | RC# | b2D | ||
| 2B | b5G | #5A | |||
| 3G | b2D | #2E | 3F | ||
| 4D | #5A | b7B | RC# | ||
| 5A | #2E | 3F | b5G | ||
| 6E | b7B | RC# | b2D | ||
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
String 1: B4 at fret 7 (b7), C#5 at fret 9 (root), D5 at fret 10 (b2).
String 2: G4 at fret 8 (b5), A4 at fret 10 (#5).
String 3: D4 at fret 7 (b2), E4 at fret 9 (#2), F4 at fret 10 (3).
String 4: A3 at fret 7 (#5), B3 at fret 9 (b7), C#4 at fret 11 (root).
String 5: E3 at fret 7 (#2), F3 at fret 8 (3), G3 at fret 10 (b5).
String 6: B2 at fret 7 (b7), C#3 at fret 9 (root), D3 at fret 10 (b2).
C# Altered Position 3 chart
Position 3 covers frets 6-10 for C# Altered.
| String | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | b7B | RC# | b2D | ||
| 2B | 3F | b5G | #5A | ||
| 3G | RC# | b2D | #2E | ||
| 4D | #5A | b7B | |||
| 5A | #2E | 3F | b5G | ||
| 6E | b7B | RC# | b2D | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
String 1: B4 at fret 7 (b7), C#5 at fret 9 (root), D5 at fret 10 (b2).
String 2: F4 at fret 6 (3), G4 at fret 8 (b5), A4 at fret 10 (#5).
String 3: C#4 at fret 6 (root), D4 at fret 7 (b2), E4 at fret 9 (#2).
String 4: A3 at fret 7 (#5), B3 at fret 9 (b7).
String 5: E3 at fret 7 (#2), F3 at fret 8 (3), G3 at fret 10 (b5).
String 6: B2 at fret 7 (b7), C#3 at fret 9 (root), D3 at fret 10 (b2).
C# Altered Position 4 chart
Position 4 covers frets 4-8 for C# Altered.
| String | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | #5A | b7B | |||
| 2B | #2E | 3F | b5G | ||
| 3G | b7B | RC# | b2D | ||
| 4D | b5G | #5A | |||
| 5A | RC# | b2D | #2E | 3F | |
| 6E | #5A | b7B | |||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
String 1: A4 at fret 5 (#5), B4 at fret 7 (b7).
String 2: E4 at fret 5 (#2), F4 at fret 6 (3), G4 at fret 8 (b5).
String 3: B3 at fret 4 (b7), C#4 at fret 6 (root), D4 at fret 7 (b2).
String 4: G3 at fret 5 (b5), A3 at fret 7 (#5).
String 5: C#3 at fret 4 (root), D3 at fret 5 (b2), E3 at fret 7 (#2), F3 at fret 8 (3).
String 6: A2 at fret 5 (#5), B2 at fret 7 (b7).
C# Altered Position 5 chart
Position 5 covers frets 2-6 for C# Altered.
| String | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | b5G | #5A | |||
| 2B | b2D | #2E | 3F | ||
| 3G | #5A | b7B | RC# | ||
| 4D | #2E | 3F | b5G | ||
| 5A | b7B | RC# | b2D | ||
| 6E | b5G | #5A | |||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
String 1: G4 at fret 3 (b5), A4 at fret 5 (#5).
String 2: D4 at fret 3 (b2), E4 at fret 5 (#2), F4 at fret 6 (3).
String 3: A3 at fret 2 (#5), B3 at fret 4 (b7), C#4 at fret 6 (root).
String 4: E3 at fret 2 (#2), F3 at fret 3 (3), G3 at fret 5 (b5).
String 5: B2 at fret 2 (b7), C#3 at fret 4 (root), D3 at fret 5 (b2).
String 6: G2 at fret 3 (b5), A2 at fret 5 (#5).
C# Altered Position 6 chart
Position 6 covers frets 1-5 for C# Altered.
| String | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 3F | b5G | #5A | ||
| 2B | RC# | b2D | #2E | ||
| 3G | #5A | b7B | |||
| 4D | #2E | 3F | b5G | ||
| 5A | b7B | RC# | b2D | ||
| 6E | 3F | b5G | #5A | ||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
String 1: F4 at fret 1 (3), G4 at fret 3 (b5), A4 at fret 5 (#5).
String 2: C#4 at fret 2 (root), D4 at fret 3 (b2), E4 at fret 5 (#2).
String 3: A3 at fret 2 (#5), B3 at fret 4 (b7).
String 4: E3 at fret 2 (#2), F3 at fret 3 (3), G3 at fret 5 (b5).
String 5: B2 at fret 2 (b7), C#3 at fret 4 (root), D3 at fret 5 (b2).
String 6: F2 at fret 1 (3), G2 at fret 3 (b5), A2 at fret 5 (#5).
C# Altered Position 7 chart
Position 7 covers frets 11-15 for C# Altered.
| String | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | #2E | 3F | b5G | ||
| 2B | b7B | RC# | b2D | ||
| 3G | b5G | #5A | |||
| 4D | RC# | b2D | #2E | 3F | |
| 5A | #5A | b7B | |||
| 6E | #2E | 3F | b5G | ||
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
String 1: E5 at fret 12 (#2), F5 at fret 13 (3), G5 at fret 15 (b5).
String 2: B4 at fret 12 (b7), C#5 at fret 14 (root), D5 at fret 15 (b2).
String 3: G4 at fret 12 (b5), A4 at fret 14 (#5).
String 4: C#4 at fret 11 (root), D4 at fret 12 (b2), E4 at fret 14 (#2), F4 at fret 15 (3).
String 5: A3 at fret 12 (#5), B3 at fret 14 (b7).
String 6: E3 at fret 12 (#2), F3 at fret 13 (3), G3 at fret 15 (b5).
Altered scale essentials
- Interval formula
- 1 · b2 · #2 · 3 · b5 · #5 · b7
- Characteristic tones
- b2 · #2 · b5 · #5
Practice the C# Altered sound
- Say and play the scale: Play C# → D → E → F → G → A → B → C# up and back down, naming the degrees 1 → b2 → #2 → 3 → b5 → #5 → b7 → 1 as you go.
- Hear its defining tones: pause on D (b2), E (#2), G (b5), A (#5) before landing on C#. Listen for how those characteristic tones color the phrase.
- Connect the positions: Work through all 7 position charts. Start in Position 1 (frets 9–13), then repeat a short phrase from the root in each shape. Use the full fretboard chart to find the next C# as you move between positions.
Continue with this scale
Take Altered into the matching course and practice resources.