A♭ Locrian at a glance
Locrian is rare as a tonal centre because of that diminished tonic, but you need to know it for modal theory. Shows up in metal and avant-garde jazz. Built on the root A♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where A♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | A♭ B𝄫 C♭ D♭ E𝄫 F♭ G♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2m · 3m · 4P · 5d · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | H W W H W W W |
| Chords in the key | A♭°B𝄫C♭mD♭mE𝄫F♭G♭m |
Chords in the A♭ Locrian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
A♭ Locrian on the piano
Improvisation drone · A♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano A♭ Locrian uses three black keys (A♭, D♭ and G♭) and four white. B𝄫, C♭, E𝄫 and F♭ are the white keys you'd normally call A, B, D and E.
A♭ · B𝄫 · C♭ · D♭ · E𝄫 · F♭ · G♭
Play A♭ Locrian on the online piano
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A♭ Locrian on the guitar
A♭ Locrian - fr 0–12
A♭ Locrian on the staff
Notes of the A♭ Locrian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | B𝄫 | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | C♭ | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | D♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | E𝄫 | diminished 5th5d | 6 | |
| 6 | F♭ | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | G♭ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes A♭ Locrian different
Locrian is the only mode of the major scale with a diminished fifth, so its tonic chord is a diminished triad rather than a major or minor one. That flat fifth is the one note separating it from Phrygian. Without a perfect fifth the tonic never sounds at rest, which is why whole pieces in Locrian are rare and the mode lives mostly in theory, over half-diminished chords in jazz, and in metal riffs. It's the seventh mode of the major scale, so it shares its notes with the major scale a half step above its root. On A♭, A♭ Locrian has E𝄫 where A♭ Phrygian has E♭; every other note is shared with A♭ Phrygian (A♭ B𝄫 C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭).
Modes from A♭ Locrian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the A♭ Locrian scale
The diatonic chords of A♭ Locrian are: i° = A♭°, II = B𝄫, iii = C♭m, iv = D♭m, V = E𝄫, VI = F♭, vii = G♭m. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in A♭ Locrian. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Locrian is rare as a tonal centre because of that diminished tonic, but you need to know it for modal theory. Shows up in metal and avant-garde jazz.
Practice tips
Locrian works best as a theoretical exercise. Spell each diatonic chord and notice why that diminished tonic makes it so unstable.
Formula & step pattern
The A♭ Locrian scale follows a minor scale with a flat second and a flat fifth (H-W-W-H-W-W-W). Step pattern: H - W - W - H - W - W - W. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2m · 3m · 4P · 5d · 6m · 7m. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear A♭ Locrian
Start with the music described above: listen for A♭ Locrian in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the A♭ Locrian scale?
The A♭ Locrian scale contains A♭, B𝄫, C♭, D♭, E𝄫, F♭ and G♭.
What is the formula for the A♭ Locrian scale?
A♭ Locrian follows a minor scale with a flat second and a flat fifth (H-W-W-H-W-W-W).
Is A♭ Locrian a major or minor scale?
A♭ Locrian is a locrian scale. The unstable seventh mode - diminished tonic and a flat fifth, rarely used as tonal centre.
What chords belong to the A♭ Locrian scale?
The diatonic chords of A♭ Locrian are A♭°, B𝄫, C♭m, D♭m, E𝄫, F♭, G♭m.
Which genres use A♭ Locrian?
Locrian is rare as a tonal centre because of that diminished tonic, but you need to know it for modal theory. Shows up in metal and avant-garde jazz.
How do you play the A♭ Locrian scale on the piano?
On the piano A♭ Locrian uses three black keys (A♭, D♭ and G♭) and four white. B𝄫, C♭, E𝄫 and F♭ are the white keys you'd normally call A, B, D and E.
What is the difference between A♭ Locrian and A♭ Phrygian?
On A♭, A♭ Locrian has E𝄫 where A♭ Phrygian has E♭; every other note is shared with A♭ Phrygian (A♭ B𝄫 C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭).
How do I practise the A♭ Locrian scale?
Locrian works best as a theoretical exercise. Spell each diatonic chord and notice why that diminished tonic makes it so unstable.