The tritone scale is created from two major triads that are a tritone apart. In this case, I’m using the G and Db major triads that result in a hexatonic scale G-Ab-B-Db-Dn-F and can be used for altered dom7 lines over both G7 and Db7. This scale can be played in position on the guitar using three distinct patterns, or modes. The 1st mode pattern starts on the root of each triad, the 2nd mode starts on the third of each triad, and the 3rd mode starts on the fifth of each triad.
When played in position, each 4-note cell in the ascending sequence always begins on a chord tone of one triad, and every cell of the descending sequence starts on a chord tone of the triad that is a tritone away.
For example, in the “1st Mode – G” pattern, each ascending 4-note cell begins with a note of the G major triad (G-B-D). Descending down through the scale in position, each 4-note cell begins with a note of the Db major triad (Db-F-Ab). Click here Tritone Scale Pattern No.1 to download the PDF or scroll down past the video to view them in JPEG.
