Locrian mode
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.
Its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7: seven notes, unstable and tense.
Make a beat in B minorOpens the free editor with a trap beat in B minor to play B locrian over. No account needed to start.
Hear the locrian mode
Here on B, B locrian. From the root up to the root: half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole. Tap a key to hear it.
B C D E F G A B
| Degree | On B | From the root |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Root |
| ♭2 | C | Minor second |
| ♭3 | D | Minor third |
| 4 | E | Perfect fourth |
| ♭5 | F | Diminished fifth |
| ♭6 | G | Minor sixth |
| ♭7 | A | Minor seventh |
Its chords, one on each note: i° ♭II ♭iii iv ♭V ♭VI ♭vii. On B that is Bdim C Dm Em F G Am.
The locrian mode in every key
The same steps from each of the twelve notes. Open one for its keyboard, its chords and a beat to play it over.
| Scale | Notes |
|---|---|
| C locrian | C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ |
| C♯ locrian | C♯ D E F♯ G A B |
| D locrian | D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C |
| D♯ locrian | D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ |
| E locrian | E F G A B♭ C D |
| F locrian | F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ |
| F♯ locrian | F♯ G A B C D E |
| G locrian | G A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F |
| G♯ locrian | G♯ A B C♯ D E F♯ |
| A locrian | A B♭ C D E♭ F G |
| A♯ locrian | A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ |
| B locrian | B C D E F G A |
Questions about the locrian mode
What is the locrian mode?
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.
What is the formula of the locrian mode?
1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7: 7 notes, counted from the major scale on the same root. Its steps from the root up to the root are: half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole.
How do I play the locrian mode in any key?
Start on any note and follow the steps above. A locrian: A B♭ C D E♭ F G; C locrian: C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭; E locrian: E F G A B♭ C D. Every key is on this page, each with its own page and keyboard.
Build a song on the locrian mode
Start with the beat, then add chords, a melody and your voice in the editor, part by part.
Keep going
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