Mode

Locrian Mode

The Locrian mode is the seventh mode of the major scale, a diminished scale with a lowered second and fifth that sounds unstable and unresolved.

Each key below opens the full reference entry — keyboard diagram, audio, fingerings, and notation.

View C Locrian

Formula: H–W–W–H–W–W–W

Scale degrees: 1–♭2–♭3–4–♭5–♭6–♭7

Characteristic note: Diminished 5th (♭5) — no other mode has a flatted fifth

Sound: Unstable, dissonant, dark, unresolved

Common in: Metal, progressive jazz, experimental, film scoring

Famous example: Army of Me — Björk (B Locrian)

Why Locrian is unique It is the only mode where the tonic chord is diminished — meaning there is no stable home base. Compared to Phrygian, Locrian lowers just one additional note: the 5th. That single change destroys the perfect fifth of the tonic triad, making Locrian unable to establish a traditional tonal center. Its primary practical use in jazz is over half-diminished (m7♭5) chords.

About the Locrian Mode

Locrian mode begins on the seventh degree of the major scale and is the most unusual of all seven modes. Its tonic triad is diminished — both the third and the fifth are flatted — making it tonally unstable and rarely used as a primary key center. Locrian creates extreme tension and dissonance that rarely resolves in traditional ways.

The C Locrian mode is the seventh mode of the Db Major scale. It has a diminished quality with flatted second and fifth degrees, the most dissonant of the seven modes.

Musical Characteristics

Diminished quality — flatted 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th
Deeply unstable and dissonant — the tonic chord is diminished
Rarely used as a stable tonal center
Works over half-diminished (ø7) chords

Common Uses

Jazz: improvising over the ii∅7 chord in minor ii–V–i
Metal and experimental music for extreme tension
Horror and suspense film scores
Brief unstable passages in jazz compositions

Common Chord Progressions

Half-diminished ii

iø7 – V7 – i

Locrian vamp

iø – ♭II

Dark tension

iø7 – ♭VIImaj7

Famous Examples in Music

"Army of Me" — Björk
Many jazz "rhythm changes" bridge sections
Experimental passages in Björk, Radiohead
Horror film underscore passages

Browse by key

All 18 spellings, ♯ and ♭ keys listed separately.

Locrian in All 18 Keys

C LocrianNotes: C – D♭ – E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭C♯ LocrianNotes: C♯ – D – E – F♯ – G – A – BD♭ LocrianNotes: D♭ – E♭♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭♭ – B♭♭ – C♭D LocrianNotes: D – E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭ – CD♯ LocrianNotes: D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯E♭ LocrianNotes: E♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭ – B♭♭ – C♭ – D♭E LocrianNotes: E – F – G – A – B♭ – C – DF LocrianNotes: F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭F♯ LocrianNotes: F♯ – G – A – B – C – D – EG♭ LocrianNotes: G♭ – A♭♭ – B♭♭ – C♭ – D♭♭ – E♭♭ – F♭G LocrianNotes: G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭ – FG♯ LocrianNotes: G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D – E – F♯A♭ LocrianNotes: A♭ – B♭♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭♭ – F♭ – G♭A LocrianNotes: A – B♭ – C – D – E♭ – F – GA♯ LocrianNotes: A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯B♭ LocrianNotes: B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭B LocrianNotes: B – C – D – E – F – G – AC♭ LocrianNotes: C♭ – D♭♭ – E♭♭ – F♭ – G♭♭ – A♭♭ – B♭♭

Want the full theory? How all seven modes relate, the bright-to-dark spectrum, characteristic notes, and practice strategies.Read the Modes Guide ›