Locrian Mode on Interactive Chord Finder

A Locrian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

A Locrian is built on the 7th degree of B♭ major and is one of the more accessible Locrian modes for guitarists — the A root on the open 5th string provides a natural anchor for riffs and bass lines. Its diminished tonic triad, flatted 2nd, and flatted 5th make harmonic resolution impossible in the traditional sense. In jazz, A Locrian is the go-to scale over Am7♭5 chords, which appear frequently in ii–V–i progressions in G minor.

A♯ Locrian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

A♯ Locrian is built on the 7th degree of B major and is the most sharp-heavy of the Locrian modes, with five sharps in its parent key. It carries every hallmark of Locrian — a diminished tonic triad, a flatted 2nd, and a flatted 5th — making harmonic resolution impossible. While A♯ Locrian is enharmonic to B♭ Locrian, the sharp spelling keeps it consistent with its parent key of B major and is the correct choice when analysing music in sharp keys.

B Locrian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

B Locrian is the darkest and most dissonant of the seven diatonic modes. It shares every note with C major but treats B as home — and that single shift in tonal centre produces something radically unstable. The tonic triad is diminished, the 2nd degree is flat, the 5th is flat, and there is no perfect 5th to anchor the key. Locrian does not resolve; it grinds. That quality makes it a favourite in extreme metal, djent, and jazz harmony over half-diminished chords.

C Locrian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

C Locrian is built on the 7th degree of D♭ major and offers a striking contrast to C major — the most familiar scale in Western music. Where C major is bright and resolved, C Locrian is its darkest opposite: a diminished tonic triad, a flatted 2nd, and a flatted 5th that refuse resolution. Starting a Locrian exploration from C is instructive precisely because the contrast with C major is so stark. In jazz, C Locrian surfaces over Cm7♭5 chords; in metal, it provides crushing low-register riffing material.

C♯ Locrian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

C♯ Locrian is built on the 7th degree of D major and carries the full weight of Locrian’s darkness — a diminished tonic triad, a flatted 2nd, and a flatted 5th that make resolution impossible. In jazz, C♯ Locrian is the go-to scale over C♯m7♭5 chords, particularly in ii–V–i progressions in B minor. In metal, the low C♯ root (easily accessible in drop C♯ tuning) makes this a natural choice for crushing, dissonant riffing.

D Locrian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

D Locrian is built on the 7th degree of E♭ major and delivers the full weight of Locrian’s darkness — a diminished tonic triad, a flatted 2nd, and a flatted 5th that make resolution impossible. D Locrian is particularly useful in jazz, where Dm7♭5 chords appear frequently in ii–V–i progressions in C minor — one of the most common minor keys in the repertoire. In metal, the D root suits drop-D and drop-C tunings, placing the Locrian ♭2 at the player’s fingertips.

D♯ Locrian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

D♯ Locrian is built on the 7th degree of E major and delivers the darkest, most unstable sound of any diatonic mode. Its diminished tonic triad, flatted 2nd, and flatted 5th make harmonic resolution impossible in the traditional sense. D♯ Locrian has a natural affinity with guitar — E major is one of the most common guitar keys, and the D♯ root sits just one fret below the open low E string, placing the signature ♭2-to-root motion literally at the player’s fingertips.

E Locrian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

E Locrian is built on the 7th degree of F major and is one of the most guitar-friendly Locrian modes. The E root falls on the open 6th string in standard tuning, giving guitarists immediate access to low, heavy Locrian riffs. Its diminished tonic triad, flatted 2nd, and flatted 5th make it inherently unstable — and that instability is precisely what metal and experimental musicians seek. In jazz, E Locrian surfaces over Em7♭5 chords in ii–V–i progressions in D minor.

F Locrian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

F Locrian is built on the 7th degree of G♭ major and is the most flat-heavy of the Locrian modes, with six flats in its parent key. It carries every hallmark of Locrian — a diminished tonic triad, a flatted 2nd, and a flatted 5th — making harmonic resolution impossible. Notably, F Locrian contains C♭, which is enharmonically equivalent to B. This enharmonic spelling keeps the scale consistent with its parent key of G♭ major, where every note except F carries a flat.

F♯ Locrian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

F♯ Locrian is built on the 7th degree of G major and inherits all the dark, unstable qualities that define the Locrian mode. Its tonic triad is diminished, its 5th is flat, and its 2nd is flat — there is no conventional sense of resolution. What makes F♯ Locrian particularly useful is that it sits naturally on the guitar in positions that suit drop-tuned metal riffing, and in jazz it surfaces whenever an F♯m7♭5 chord appears in a progression.

G Locrian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

G Locrian is built on the 7th degree of A♭ major and delivers the characteristic Locrian instability — a diminished tonic triad, a flatted 2nd, and a flatted 5th. G Locrian is a practical choice for guitarists working in the 3rd position and appears in jazz whenever a Gm7♭5 chord functions in a ii–V–i progression in F minor. Its four flats keep it moderately complex on the page but straightforward in the fingers once the patterns are internalised.

G♯ Locrian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

G♯ Locrian is built on the 7th degree of A major and delivers the full Locrian experience — a diminished tonic triad, a flatted 2nd, and a flatted 5th that refuse to let the music settle. In jazz, G♯ Locrian appears over G♯m7♭5 chords in ii–V–i progressions in F♯ minor. In metal, the G♯ root works well in drop-tuned contexts where players seek the mode’s characteristic grinding dissonance.

What Makes Locrian Different?

The Locrian mode is built on the 7th degree of a major scale. G♯ Locrian uses the notes of A major starting and ending on G♯. Compared to G♯ natural minor (G♯ Aeolian), Locrian has both a flatted 2nd and a flatted 5th. Those two alterations eliminate the perfect 5th and produce a diminished tonic triad — making Locrian inherently unstable and unsuitable as a conventional key centre.

Scales for Piano and Guitar: The Complete Reference Guide

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Scales are the raw material of music. Every melody you hum, every chord progression you play, and every solo you improvise draws from a scale of some kind. Whether you play piano, guitar, or any other instrument, knowing your scales unlocks the ability to understand, compose, and perform music with confidence.

This page is a single reference for the twelve most important scale types and modes in Western music. Each section explains what makes the scale distinctive and lists the notes for all twelve keys. Click any key name to read a detailed guide covering that scale’s intervals, diatonic chords, practical tips, and more.