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C locrian mode

The C locrian mode is C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭: seven notes, unstable and tense. Its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.

Make a beat in C minor

Opens the free editor with a trap beat in C minor to play C locrian over. No account needed to start.

The notes of C locrian

From C up to C: half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole. Tap a key to hear it.

C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C

CFCD♭E♭G♭A♭B♭
The notes of C locrian mode by scale degree
DegreeNoteFrom the root
1CRoot
♭2D♭Minor second
♭3E♭Minor third
4FPerfect fourth
♭5G♭Diminished fifth
♭6A♭Minor sixth
♭7B♭Minor seventh

How C locrian is built

The D♭ major scale played from its seventh note, C: the same notes with C as home. Against C minor, the minor scale on the same note, it has D♭ instead of D and G♭ instead of G.

The major scale played from its seventh note. Its fifth is lowered, so the chord on its root is diminished and never sounds at rest: the darkest of the modes, used for tension in metal and film. The locrian mode in every key.

Chords in C locrian

One chord on each note of the scale, built from its own notes. The numeral says which note it starts on, against the C major scale: capitals are major, small letters minor.

i°Cdim♭IID♭♭iiiE♭mivFm♭VG♭♭VIA♭♭viiB♭m

Play C locrian over a beat

A beat on the chords of C minor. Play the scale over it on the keyboard above, then open it in the editor and add your melody as its own part.

Hear it as

Questions about C locrian

What notes are in the C locrian mode?

C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭ and B♭. Its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7, counted from the major scale on C, and its steps from C up to C are: half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole.

What key is C locrian in?

C locrian uses the notes of D♭ major, starting on its seventh note, C. The notes are the same; making C home is what gives it its own sound.

How is C locrian different from C minor?

D♭ instead of D and G♭ instead of G: two notes of the C minor scale change, and those notes give C locrian its sound: unstable and tense.

Locrian mode in every key

C locrianC♯ locrianD locrianD♯ locrianE locrianF locrianF♯ locrianG locrianG♯ locrianA locrianA♯ locrianB locrian

More scales on C

C major (major scale)C minor (natural minor scale)C major pentatonicC minor pentatonicC bluesC harmonic minorC melodic minorC dorianC phrygianC lydianC mixolydianC locrianC phrygian dominant
Scales and modes
Major and minor keysMajor pentatonic scaleMinor pentatonic scaleBlues scaleHarmonic minor scaleMelodic minor scaleDorian modePhrygian modeLydian modeMixolydian modeLocrian modePhrygian dominant scaleWhole tone scale

Build a song in C locrian

Start with the beat, then add chords, a melody and your voice in the editor, part by part.

Make a beat in C minorAll music scales

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