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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♯

DEGABC♯F♯C♯
The notes of C♯ locrian mode by scale degree
DegreeNoteFrom the root
1C♯Root
♭2DMinor second
♭3EMinor third
4F♯Perfect fourth
♭5GDiminished fifth
♭6AMinor sixth
♭7BMinor 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°C♯dim♭IID♭iiiEmivF♯m♭VG♭VIA♭viiBm

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♯

D♭ major (major scale)C♯ minor (natural minor scale)D♭ major pentatonicC♯ minor pentatonicC♯ bluesC♯ harmonic minorC♯ melodic minorC♯ dorianC♯ phrygianD♭ lydianD♭ 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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