About the D Locrian Scale
The D locrian scale is a 7-note scale. Diminished quality with flat 2nd and flat 5th, unstable and tense. Its notes are D, D#, F, G, G#, A# and C, built from the formula 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- D – D# – F – G – G# – A# – C
- 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
- D
D Locrian Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Root |
| ♭2 | D# | Minor 2nd |
| ♭3 | F | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | G | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | G# | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | A# | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | C | Minor 7th |
Where to play the D Locrian Scale on 5-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (D) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11 |
| E1 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| A1 | 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| D2 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| G2 | 0, 1, 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 D Locrian Scale
These scales share every note with the D locrian scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Locrian scale in other keys
Other scales in D
- D Minor Pentatonic
- D Major Pentatonic
- D Mixolydian Pentatonic
- D Natural Minor
- D Major (Ionian)
- D Blues
- D Dorian
- D Mixolydian
- D Phrygian
- D Harmonic Minor
- D Lydian
- D Diminished (Half-Whole)
- D Diminished (Whole-Half)
- D Whole Tone
- D Augmented (Hexatonic)
- D Altered (Super Locrian)
- D Phrygian Dominant
- D Lydian Dominant
- D Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- D Bebop Dominant
- D Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- D Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)