F 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

15123467

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

Notes of the scale

DegreeNoteInterval
1Froot
2G♭ (G flat)minor second
3A♭ (A flat)minor third
4B♭ (B flat)perfect fourth
5C♭ (C flat)diminished fifth
6D♭ (D flat)minor sixth
7E♭ (E flat)minor 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 F sharp major scale, starting from another degree.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. Fdimi°
  2. G♭II
  3. A♭miii
  4. B♭miv
  5. C♭V
  6. D♭VI
  7. E♭mvii

Other F scales

The same scale in other keys