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