About the A Locrian Scale
The A locrian scale is a 7-note scale. Diminished quality with flat 2nd and flat 5th, unstable and tense. Its notes are A, A#, C, D, D#, F and G, built from the formula 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- A – A# – C – D – D# – F – G
- Formula
- 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- H W W H W W W (1–2–2–1–2–2–2 semitones)
- Root
- A
A Locrian Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Root |
| ♭2 | A# | Minor 2nd |
| ♭3 | C | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | D | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | D# | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | F | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | G | Minor 7th |
Where to play the A Locrian Scale on bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (A) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E1 | 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| A1 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| D2 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 |
| G2 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 |
How to practice the locrian scale
- Emphasize the ♭5 for the diminished sound
- Use over m7♭5 / half-diminished chords
- Practice resolving Locrian phrases into a stronger mode
- Compare with Phrygian to hear the lowered 5th
- Try metal riffs that lean on the tritone
Scales with the same notes as A Locrian Scale
These scales share every note with the A locrian scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Locrian scale in other keys
Other scales in A
- A Minor Pentatonic
- A Major Pentatonic
- A Mixolydian Pentatonic
- A Natural Minor
- A Major (Ionian)
- A Blues
- A Dorian
- A Mixolydian
- A Phrygian
- A Harmonic Minor
- A Lydian
- A Diminished (Half-Whole)
- A Diminished (Whole-Half)
- A Whole Tone
- A Augmented (Hexatonic)
- A Altered (Super Locrian)
- A Phrygian Dominant
- A Lydian Dominant
- A Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- A Bebop Dominant
- A Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- A Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)