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ENEN
Standard
Scales
Chords
B♭
Locrian
Frets: 0 - 24

Formula
Notes

m2-M2-M2-m2-M2-M2
A♯
B
C♯
D♯
E
F♯
G♯
E
B
E
G♯
D♯
A♯
1
F♯
C♯
E
B
F♯
2
A♯
3
G♯
D♯
B
F♯
C♯
G♯
4
E
5
A♯
C♯
G♯
D♯
A♯
6
B
F♯
E
B
7
D♯
A♯
8
C♯
G♯
E
B
F♯
C♯
9
10
D♯
A♯
F♯
C♯
G♯
D♯
11
E
B
E
12
G♯
D♯
A♯
13
F♯
C♯
E
B
F♯
14
A♯
15
G♯
D♯
B
F♯
C♯
G♯
16
E
17
A♯
C♯
G♯
D♯
A♯
18
B
F♯
E
B
19
D♯
A♯
20
C♯
G♯
E
B
F♯
C♯
21
22
D♯
A♯
F♯
C♯
G♯
D♯
23
E
B
E
24

Basic Scale Information

  • Name: Locrian Scale
  • Type: Diatonic scale (mode of the major scale)
  • Formula: 1 – ♭2 – ♭3 – 4 – ♭5 – ♭6 – ♭7
  • Relation with Major Scale: It is the seventh degree of the major scale. For example, B Locrian contains the same notes as C major.

Theoretical Aspects

  • Sound Character: The Locrian scale is considered the most unstable and dissonant among the diatonic scales. Its characteristic interval is the diminished fifth (♭5), which makes the chord built on the tonic a diminished chord. It has a dark, restless, and unstable character.
  • Typical Chord: m7♭5 (half-diminished) (e.g., Bm7♭5)
  • Modal Context: Little used in traditional tonal music, it is explored in jazz, experimental, or cinematic contexts for its unusual and unstable sound.
  • Harmonic Use: Often used on half-diminished seventh chords in minor II–V–I progressions, or in modal pieces with a dark color.

Musical Context

  1. Musical Styles: Jazz, Experimental metal, Fusion, Contemporary music
  2. Songs using the scale:
    • Nardis – Miles Davis
    • YYZ – Rush (some sections)
    • Equinox – John Coltrane
    • Angel of Death – Slayer (Locrian influences)
    • Blackened – Metallica (modal influences)
  3. Evoked Atmosphere: Tense, dark, unstable, mysterious, often associated with feelings of danger or uneasiness.

Chords in Scale

A♯
A♯ Diminished
A♯ Half Diminished 7
B
B Major
B Major 6
B Major 7
B Major 9
B Major 11
B Major 13
B Power chord
B Suspended Second
B Suspended Fourth
D♭
D♭ Major Dominant 7 Suspended 4
D♭ Major Dominant 9 Suspended 4
D♭ Major Dominant 13 Suspended 4
D♭ Power chord
D♭ Suspended Second
D♭ Suspended Fourth
C♯ Minor
C♯ Minor 7
C♯ Minor 9
C♯ Minor 11
E♭
E♭ Major Dominant 7 Suspended 4
E♭ Power chord
E♭ Suspended Fourth
D♯ Minor
D♯ Minor 6
D♯ Minor 7
E
E Major
E Major 6
E Major 7
E Major 9
E Power chord
E Suspended Second
F♯
F♯ Major
F♯ Major Dominant 7
F♯ Major Dominant 9
F♯ Major Dominant 11
F♯ Major Dominant 7 Suspended 4
F♯ Major Dominant 9 Suspended 4
F♯ Major Dominant 13 Suspended 4
F♯ Major Dominant 13
F♯ Major 6
F♯ Power chord
F♯ Suspended Second
F♯ Suspended Fourth
A♭
A♭ Major Dominant 7 Suspended 4
A♭ Major Dominant 9 Suspended 4
A♭ Power chord
A♭ Suspended Second
A♭ Suspended Fourth
G♯ Minor
G♯ Minor 6
G♯ Minor 13
G♯ Minor 7
G♯ Minor 9
G♯ Minor 11