A Locrian mode on piano

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 keyboard

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Numbers above the keys are the scale degrees; the root is filled.

Notes of the scale

DegreeNoteInterval
1Aroot
2B♭ (B flat)minor second
3Cminor third
4Dperfect fourth
5E♭ (E flat)diminished fifth
6Fminor sixth
7Gminor 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 B flat major scale, starting from another degree.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. Adimi°
  2. B♭II
  3. Cmiii
  4. Dmiv
  5. E♭V
  6. FVI
  7. Gmvii

Other A scales

The same scale in other keys