STRINGSCALES

B altered dominant double b3 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, A, B, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11

A string: A, B, C, Db, Eb, F, G, A at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

D string: Eb, F, G, A, B, C, Db at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11

G string: G, A, B, C, Db, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

B string: B, C, Db, Eb, F, G, A, B at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

High E string: F, G, A, B, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11

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B altered dominant double b3

The altered dominant double b3 scale, the seventh mode of the neapolitan major scale, is the altered scale pushed one notch further: the sharp 9 is flattened again to a double-flat 3rd. Every degree from 2 to 7 is lowered, some twice. It is about as much tension as seven notes can carry, for altered dominants at the outer edge of jazz harmony.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B

I

D♭7no5/B
C

bii

Cm
D♭

bbIII+

D♭aug
E♭

bIV+

E♭aug
F

bV

Fmaj
G

bVI

Gmaj♭5
A

bvii°

Adim

Same notes, different mode

B altered dominant double b3 uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

C neapolitan majorDb leading whole toneEb lydian augmented dominantF lydian dominant b6G major locrianA half-diminished b4

altered dominant double b3 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Every degree above the root is lowered, some twice: use B altered dominant double b3 (D) for one bar of maximum dominant tension, then resolve.
  • The double-flat 3rd (Db) is enharmonically the 9th of the chord a half step down; voice-lead it there and the wildness turns logical.
  • Anchor on the tritone between the root and b5 (F); it is the only interval here the ear can hold onto.
  • As the seventh mode of neapolitan major, it shares its pitch set with the neapolitan major a half step above B.

How to play B altered dominant double b3 on guitar

Open B is the root; open A brings the minor seventh, open G the minor sixth, so three open strings pedal under any fretted line. Only 2 flats appear in the key signature, which means the fretboard spellings stay simple. Roots also land seven frets up the E pair and nine up the D string. A half-diminished b4 uses the identical shape, so one fingering covers both tonics. At fret 11 a new box takes over.

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