D Locrian mode on bass

The Locrian mode, with its minor second and flat fifth, is the most unstable mode. It is mostly used over half-diminished chords, in jazz and metal.

On the whole neck

EADGFGA♭B♭CDE♭B♭CDE♭FGA♭DE♭FGA♭B♭CDGA♭B♭CDE♭FG0123456789101112
EADGFGA♭B♭CDE♭B♭CDE♭FGA♭DE♭FGA♭B♭CDGA♭B♭CDE♭FG0123456789101112

Position from fret 9

EADGDE♭FGA♭B♭CDE♭FGA♭910111213
EADGDE♭FGA♭B♭CDE♭FGA♭910111213

Root notes are filled. The position starts from the root on the 4th string (low E).

Notes of the scale

DegreeNoteInterval
1Droot
2E♭ (E flat)minor second
3Fminor third
4Gperfect fourth
5A♭ (A flat)diminished fifth
6B♭ (B flat)minor sixth
7Cminor seventh

Steps between notes: H – W – W – H – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step)

This mode uses the same notes as the E flat major scale, starting from another degree.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. Ddimi°
  2. E♭II
  3. Fmiii
  4. Gmiv
  5. A♭V
  6. B♭VI
  7. Cmvii

Other D scales

The same scale in other keys