B♯ 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 B♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where B♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | B♯ C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2m · 3m · 4P · 5d · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | H W W H W W W |
| Chords in the key | B♯°C♯D♯mE♯mF♯G♯A♯m |
Chords in the B♯ Locrian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
B♯ Locrian on the piano
Improvisation drone · B♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano B♯ Locrian uses five black keys (C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯ and A♯) and two white. B♯ and E♯ are the white keys you'd normally call C and F.
B♯ · C♯ · D♯ · E♯ · F♯ · G♯ · A♯
Play B♯ Locrian on the online piano
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B♯ Locrian on the guitar
B♯ Locrian - fr 0–12
B♯ Locrian on the staff
Notes of the B♯ Locrian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♯ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | C♯ | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | D♯ | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | E♯ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | F♯ | diminished 5th5d | 6 | |
| 6 | G♯ | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | A♯ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes B♯ 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 B♯, B♯ Locrian has F♯ where B♯ Phrygian has F𝄪; every other note is shared with B♯ Phrygian (B♯ C♯ D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G♯ A♯).
Modes from B♯ Locrian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the B♯ Locrian scale
The diatonic chords of B♯ Locrian are: i° = B♯°, II = C♯, iii = D♯m, iv = E♯m, V = F♯, VI = G♯, vii = A♯m. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in B♯ 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 B♯ 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 B♯ Locrian
Start with the music described above: listen for B♯ 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 B♯ Locrian scale?
The B♯ Locrian scale contains B♯, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯ and A♯.
What is the formula for the B♯ Locrian scale?
B♯ Locrian follows a minor scale with a flat second and a flat fifth (H-W-W-H-W-W-W).
Is B♯ Locrian a major or minor scale?
B♯ 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 B♯ Locrian scale?
The diatonic chords of B♯ Locrian are B♯°, C♯, D♯m, E♯m, F♯, G♯, A♯m.
Which genres use B♯ 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 B♯ Locrian scale on the piano?
On the piano B♯ Locrian uses five black keys (C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯ and A♯) and two white. B♯ and E♯ are the white keys you'd normally call C and F.
What is the difference between B♯ Locrian and B♯ Phrygian?
On B♯, B♯ Locrian has F♯ where B♯ Phrygian has F𝄪; every other note is shared with B♯ Phrygian (B♯ C♯ D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G♯ A♯).
How do I practise the B♯ Locrian scale?
Locrian works best as a theoretical exercise. Spell each diatonic chord and notice why that diminished tonic makes it so unstable.