About the C Locrian Scale
The C locrian scale is a 7-note scale. Diminished quality with flat 2nd and flat 5th, unstable and tense. Its notes are C, C#, D#, F, F#, G# and A#, built from the formula 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- C – C# – D# – F – F# – G# – A#
- 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
- C
C Locrian Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Root |
| ♭2 | C# | Minor 2nd |
| ♭3 | D# | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | F | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | F# | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | G# | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | A# | Minor 7th |
Where to play the C Locrian Scale on 6-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G C), lowest string first. Root notes (C) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11 |
| E1 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11 |
| A1 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11 |
| D2 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| G2 | 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| C3 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 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 C Locrian Scale
These scales share every note with the C locrian scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Locrian scale in other keys
Other scales in C
- C Minor Pentatonic
- C Major Pentatonic
- C Mixolydian Pentatonic
- C Natural Minor
- C Major (Ionian)
- C Blues
- C Dorian
- C Mixolydian
- C Phrygian
- C Harmonic Minor
- C Lydian
- C Diminished (Half-Whole)
- C Diminished (Whole-Half)
- C Whole Tone
- C Augmented (Hexatonic)
- C Altered (Super Locrian)
- C Phrygian Dominant
- C Lydian Dominant
- C Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- C Bebop Dominant
- C Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- C Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)