D Altered Scale Charts
Explore D Altered across the full guitar fretboard and 7 connected positions. Notes: D, D#, F, F#, G#, A#, C. Intervals: 1, b2, #2, 3, b5, #5, b7.
D Altered full fretboard chart
D Altered uses D, D#, F, F#, G#, A#, C across frets 0-15.
| String | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | #2F | 3F# | b5G# | #5A# | b7C | RD | b2D# | #2F | 3F# | |||||||
| 2B | b7C | RD | b2D# | #2F | 3F# | b5G# | #5A# | b7C | RD | |||||||
| 3G | b5G# | #5A# | b7C | RD | b2D# | #2F | 3F# | b5G# | #5A# | |||||||
| 4D | RD | b2D# | #2F | 3F# | b5G# | #5A# | b7C | RD | b2D# | #2F | ||||||
| 5A | #5A# | b7C | RD | b2D# | #2F | 3F# | b5G# | #5A# | b7C | |||||||
| 6E | #2F | 3F# | b5G# | #5A# | b7C | RD | b2D# | #2F | 3F# | |||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
String 1: F4 at fret 1 (#2), F#4 at fret 2 (3), G#4 at fret 4 (b5), A#4 at fret 6 (#5), C5 at fret 8 (b7), D5 at fret 10 (root), D#5 at fret 11 (b2), F5 at fret 13 (#2), F#5 at fret 14 (3).
String 2: C4 at fret 1 (b7), D4 at fret 3 (root), D#4 at fret 4 (b2), F4 at fret 6 (#2), F#4 at fret 7 (3), G#4 at fret 9 (b5), A#4 at fret 11 (#5), C5 at fret 13 (b7), D5 at fret 15 (root).
String 3: G#3 at fret 1 (b5), A#3 at fret 3 (#5), C4 at fret 5 (b7), D4 at fret 7 (root), D#4 at fret 8 (b2), F4 at fret 10 (#2), F#4 at fret 11 (3), G#4 at fret 13 (b5), A#4 at fret 15 (#5).
String 4: D3 at fret 0 (root), D#3 at fret 1 (b2), F3 at fret 3 (#2), F#3 at fret 4 (3), G#3 at fret 6 (b5), A#3 at fret 8 (#5), C4 at fret 10 (b7), D4 at fret 12 (root), D#4 at fret 13 (b2), F4 at fret 15 (#2).
String 5: A#2 at fret 1 (#5), C3 at fret 3 (b7), D3 at fret 5 (root), D#3 at fret 6 (b2), F3 at fret 8 (#2), F#3 at fret 9 (3), G#3 at fret 11 (b5), A#3 at fret 13 (#5), C4 at fret 15 (b7).
String 6: F2 at fret 1 (#2), F#2 at fret 2 (3), G#2 at fret 4 (b5), A#2 at fret 6 (#5), C3 at fret 8 (b7), D3 at fret 10 (root), D#3 at fret 11 (b2), F3 at fret 13 (#2), F#3 at fret 14 (3).
D Altered Position 1 chart
Position 1 covers frets 10-14 for D Altered.
| String | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | RD | b2D# | #2F | 3F# | |
| 2B | #5A# | b7C | |||
| 3G | #2F | 3F# | b5G# | ||
| 4D | b7C | RD | b2D# | ||
| 5A | b5G# | #5A# | |||
| 6E | RD | b2D# | #2F | 3F# | |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
String 1: D5 at fret 10 (root), D#5 at fret 11 (b2), F5 at fret 13 (#2), F#5 at fret 14 (3).
String 2: A#4 at fret 11 (#5), C5 at fret 13 (b7).
String 3: F4 at fret 10 (#2), F#4 at fret 11 (3), G#4 at fret 13 (b5).
String 4: C4 at fret 10 (b7), D4 at fret 12 (root), D#4 at fret 13 (b2).
String 5: G#3 at fret 11 (b5), A#3 at fret 13 (#5).
String 6: D3 at fret 10 (root), D#3 at fret 11 (b2), F3 at fret 13 (#2), F#3 at fret 14 (3).
D Altered Position 2 chart
Position 2 covers frets 8-12 for D Altered.
| String | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | b7C | RD | b2D# | ||
| 2B | b5G# | #5A# | |||
| 3G | b2D# | #2F | 3F# | ||
| 4D | #5A# | b7C | RD | ||
| 5A | #2F | 3F# | b5G# | ||
| 6E | b7C | RD | b2D# | ||
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
String 1: C5 at fret 8 (b7), D5 at fret 10 (root), D#5 at fret 11 (b2).
String 2: G#4 at fret 9 (b5), A#4 at fret 11 (#5).
String 3: D#4 at fret 8 (b2), F4 at fret 10 (#2), F#4 at fret 11 (3).
String 4: A#3 at fret 8 (#5), C4 at fret 10 (b7), D4 at fret 12 (root).
String 5: F3 at fret 8 (#2), F#3 at fret 9 (3), G#3 at fret 11 (b5).
String 6: C3 at fret 8 (b7), D3 at fret 10 (root), D#3 at fret 11 (b2).
D Altered Position 3 chart
Position 3 covers frets 7-11 for D Altered.
| String | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | b7C | RD | b2D# | ||
| 2B | 3F# | b5G# | #5A# | ||
| 3G | RD | b2D# | #2F | ||
| 4D | #5A# | b7C | |||
| 5A | #2F | 3F# | b5G# | ||
| 6E | b7C | RD | b2D# | ||
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
String 1: C5 at fret 8 (b7), D5 at fret 10 (root), D#5 at fret 11 (b2).
String 2: F#4 at fret 7 (3), G#4 at fret 9 (b5), A#4 at fret 11 (#5).
String 3: D4 at fret 7 (root), D#4 at fret 8 (b2), F4 at fret 10 (#2).
String 4: A#3 at fret 8 (#5), C4 at fret 10 (b7).
String 5: F3 at fret 8 (#2), F#3 at fret 9 (3), G#3 at fret 11 (b5).
String 6: C3 at fret 8 (b7), D3 at fret 10 (root), D#3 at fret 11 (b2).
D Altered Position 4 chart
Position 4 covers frets 5-9 for D Altered.
| String | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | #5A# | b7C | |||
| 2B | #2F | 3F# | b5G# | ||
| 3G | b7C | RD | b2D# | ||
| 4D | b5G# | #5A# | |||
| 5A | RD | b2D# | #2F | 3F# | |
| 6E | #5A# | b7C | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
String 1: A#4 at fret 6 (#5), C5 at fret 8 (b7).
String 2: F4 at fret 6 (#2), F#4 at fret 7 (3), G#4 at fret 9 (b5).
String 3: C4 at fret 5 (b7), D4 at fret 7 (root), D#4 at fret 8 (b2).
String 4: G#3 at fret 6 (b5), A#3 at fret 8 (#5).
String 5: D3 at fret 5 (root), D#3 at fret 6 (b2), F3 at fret 8 (#2), F#3 at fret 9 (3).
String 6: A#2 at fret 6 (#5), C3 at fret 8 (b7).
D Altered Position 5 chart
Position 5 covers frets 3-7 for D Altered.
| String | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | b5G# | #5A# | |||
| 2B | b2D# | #2F | 3F# | ||
| 3G | #5A# | b7C | RD | ||
| 4D | #2F | 3F# | b5G# | ||
| 5A | b7C | RD | b2D# | ||
| 6E | b5G# | #5A# | |||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
String 1: G#4 at fret 4 (b5), A#4 at fret 6 (#5).
String 2: D#4 at fret 4 (b2), F4 at fret 6 (#2), F#4 at fret 7 (3).
String 3: A#3 at fret 3 (#5), C4 at fret 5 (b7), D4 at fret 7 (root).
String 4: F3 at fret 3 (#2), F#3 at fret 4 (3), G#3 at fret 6 (b5).
String 5: C3 at fret 3 (b7), D3 at fret 5 (root), D#3 at fret 6 (b2).
String 6: G#2 at fret 4 (b5), A#2 at fret 6 (#5).
D Altered Position 6 chart
Position 6 covers frets 2-6 for D Altered.
| String | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 3F# | b5G# | #5A# | ||
| 2B | RD | b2D# | #2F | ||
| 3G | #5A# | b7C | |||
| 4D | #2F | 3F# | b5G# | ||
| 5A | b7C | RD | b2D# | ||
| 6E | 3F# | b5G# | #5A# | ||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
String 1: F#4 at fret 2 (3), G#4 at fret 4 (b5), A#4 at fret 6 (#5).
String 2: D4 at fret 3 (root), D#4 at fret 4 (b2), F4 at fret 6 (#2).
String 3: A#3 at fret 3 (#5), C4 at fret 5 (b7).
String 4: F3 at fret 3 (#2), F#3 at fret 4 (3), G#3 at fret 6 (b5).
String 5: C3 at fret 3 (b7), D3 at fret 5 (root), D#3 at fret 6 (b2).
String 6: F#2 at fret 2 (3), G#2 at fret 4 (b5), A#2 at fret 6 (#5).
D Altered Position 7 chart
Position 7 covers frets 0-4 for D Altered.
| String | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | #2F | 3F# | b5G# | ||
| 2B | b7C | RD | b2D# | ||
| 3G | b5G# | #5A# | |||
| 4D | RD | b2D# | #2F | 3F# | |
| 5A | #5A# | b7C | |||
| 6E | #2F | 3F# | b5G# | ||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
String 1: F4 at fret 1 (#2), F#4 at fret 2 (3), G#4 at fret 4 (b5).
String 2: C4 at fret 1 (b7), D4 at fret 3 (root), D#4 at fret 4 (b2).
String 3: G#3 at fret 1 (b5), A#3 at fret 3 (#5).
String 4: D3 at fret 0 (root), D#3 at fret 1 (b2), F3 at fret 3 (#2), F#3 at fret 4 (3).
String 5: A#2 at fret 1 (#5), C3 at fret 3 (b7).
String 6: F2 at fret 1 (#2), F#2 at fret 2 (3), G#2 at fret 4 (b5).
Altered scale essentials
- Interval formula
- 1 · b2 · #2 · 3 · b5 · #5 · b7
- Characteristic tones
- b2 · #2 · b5 · #5
Practice the D Altered sound
- Say and play the scale: Play D → D# → F → F# → G# → A# → C → D 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), F (#2), G# (b5), A# (#5) before landing on D. Listen for how those characteristic tones color the phrase.
- Connect the positions: Work through all 7 position charts. Start in Position 1 (frets 10–14), then repeat a short phrase from the root in each shape. Use the full fretboard chart to find the next D as you move between positions.
Continue with this scale
Take Altered into the matching course and practice resources.