About the B Locrian scale
B Locrian is used for jazz soloing over half-diminished chords and tense, dissonant passages. Think of it as the most unstable mode of all, restless and unresolved. It is B Phrygian with the fifth lowered.
Its notes are B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. The formula is H W W H W W W. It is the seventh mode of C Major.
Every note of B Locrian is a white key on the piano.
Chords in the key of B Locrian
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i° B diminished
B diminished over D (1st inversion)
II C
C over E (1st inversion)
iii D minor
D minor over F (1st inversion)
iv E minor
E minor over G (1st inversion)
V F
F over A (1st inversion)
VI G
G over B (1st inversion)
vii A minor
A minor over C (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in B Locrian
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i° B minor seven flat five
B minor seven flat five
II C major seven
C major seven
iii D minor seven
D minor seven
iv E minor seven
E minor seven
V F major seven
F major seven
VI G seven
G seven
vii A minor seven
A minor seven
Progressions in B Locrian
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | BB | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | CC | Minor 2nd |
| 3 | DD | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | EE | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | FF | Diminished 5th |
| 6 | GG | Minor 6th |
| 7 | AA | Minor 7th |
| Steps | H W W H W W W |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 1-2-2-1-2-2-2 |
| Degrees | 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7 |
Fingering
Suggested fingering, follows standard fingering rules
| Hand | B | C | D | E | F | G | A | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Locrian in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.