F locrian mode
The F locrian mode is F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭: seven notes, unstable and tense. Its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
Make a beat in F minorOpens the free editor with a house beat in F minor to play F locrian over. No account needed to start.
The notes of F locrian
From F up to F: half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole. Tap a key to hear it.
F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F
| Degree | Note | From the root |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | Root |
| ♭2 | G♭ | Minor second |
| ♭3 | A♭ | Minor third |
| 4 | B♭ | Perfect fourth |
| ♭5 | C♭ | Diminished fifth |
| ♭6 | D♭ | Minor sixth |
| ♭7 | E♭ | Minor seventh |
How F locrian is built
The G♭ major scale played from its seventh note, F: the same notes with F as home. Against F minor, the minor scale on the same note, it has G♭ instead of G and C♭ instead of C.
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.
Play F locrian over a beat
A beat on the chords of F minor. Play the scale over it on the keyboard above, then open it in the editor and add your melody as its own part.
Questions about F locrian
What notes are in the F locrian mode?
F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭ and E♭. Its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7, counted from the major scale on F, and its steps from F up to F are: half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole.
What key is F locrian in?
F locrian uses the notes of G♭ major, starting on its seventh note, F. The notes are the same; making F home is what gives it its own sound.
How is F locrian different from F minor?
G♭ instead of G and C♭ instead of C: two notes of the F minor scale change, and those notes give F locrian its sound: unstable and tense.
Locrian mode in every key
More scales on F
Build a song in F locrian
Start with the beat, then add chords, a melody and your voice in the editor, part by part.
Keep going
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