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