C
Notes: C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C
Locrian Mode
The Locrian Mode is one of the seven modes. As you can see, the B Locrian has the same notes as in C Major, but the tonic starts at B. The chord built from the tonic is diminished, such as Bdim that includes the notes B, D and F. It is therefore a good choice to use this scale over half-diminished chords.
The diminished character gives the Locrian Scale a rare sound and it is probably most used in jazz. See also Super Locrian Scale.
C# / Db
Notes: C#, D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#
D
Notes: D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D
D# /Eb
Notes: D#, E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#
E
Notes: E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E
F
Notes: F, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, F
F# / Gb
Notes: F#, G, A, B, C, D, E, F#
G
Notes: G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G
G# / Ab
Notes: G#, A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#
A
Notes: A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A
A# / Bb
Notes: A#, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#
B
Notes: B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B
Locrian Scales overview
C: C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C
C#/Db: C#, D, E, F#, G, A, B, C# / Db, Ebb (D), Fb (E), Gb, Abb (G), Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db
D: D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D
D#/Eb: D#, E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D# / Eb, Fb (E), Gb, Ab, Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db, Eb
E: E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E
F: F, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, F
F#/Gb: F#, G, A, B, C, D, E, F# / Gb, Abb (G), Bbb (A), Cb (B), Dbb (C), Ebb (D), Fb (E), Gb
G: G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G
G#/Ab: G#, A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G# / Ab, Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db, Ebb (D), Fb (E), Gb, Ab
A: A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A
A#/Bb: A#, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A# / Bb, Cb (B), Db, Eb, Fb (E), Gb, Ab, Bb
B: B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B
Intervals: 1, b2, b3, 4, b5, b6, b7
Semi-notes: 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2
Formula: Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole
Locrian scales with note letters (sheet music PDF)
The Locrian scales in musical notes are available in the member area.
The scale in all keys (without note names) can be downloaded as a PDF-file.
Relative keys – Locrian and Major
The same notes can be found in different Major and Locrian scales:
- C Locrian – Db Major
- C# Locrian – D Major
- D Locrian – Eb Major
- D# Locrian – E Major
- E Locrian - F Major
- F Locrian – F# Major
- F# Locrian – G Major
- G Locrian – G# Major
- G# Locrian – A Major
- A Locrian – A# Major
- A# Locrian – B Major
- B Locrian – C Major
It is only a semi-step between the roots in the relative scales.
The ancient heritage
The Locrian Scale emerged in the ancient Greece together with other scales such as Aeolian and Dorian. The names were taken from regions or people – the Locrians once lived in Central Greece.
Altered Locrian #2 and b4
Two relevant scales are the Altered Locrian #2 (sharp two) and the Altered Locrian b4 (flat four), also known as the Super Locrian. These are identical to the Locrian except for the raised second and flatted fourth.