Chapter 10 of 12 · Part 3: The seven sounds
Locrian: why the unstable mode still matters
Direct answer
Locrian is 1 flat 2 flat 3 4 flat 5 flat 6 flat 7. Its tonic triad is diminished because flat 3 and flat 5 sit above the root, so it lacks the stable perfect 5 that anchors the other six major-scale modes.
Common mix-up: Locrian is not useless, but it rarely behaves like a stable song key. Use it for tension over diminished or half-diminished harmony, or as a temporary color.
The missing anchor
Play B-D-F from C major. B to F is a diminished fifth, so Bdim does not give your ear the settled home chord it expects. C, only one fret above B, also pulls hard away from the root.
That instability is the point. Locrian fits naturally around a half-diminished chord and gives tense riffs a strict set of notes to work with.
Keep B at the center
Hold a B pedal, repeat B on strong beats, and avoid a full resolution to C. A Bm7-flat-5 drone or Bdim-C move keeps the friction while the rhythm makes B important.
Short riffs work better than long functional progressions here. Let flat 2 and flat 5 speak clearly, then return to the pedal.
Formulas, notes, and what to hear
| Scale or mode · hear it | Formula | Notes | Listen for |
|---|---|---|---|
B Locrian | Formula1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7 | NotesB C D E F G A | HearC and F against a B pedal |
B Aeolian | Formula1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 | NotesB C♯ D E F♯ G A | Hearstable F-sharp perfect 5 |
Where to hear the Locrian sound
Björk — “Army of Me”
The verse bass line centers C and uses D flat and G flat, Locrian's flat 2 and flat 5. The chorus moves elsewhere, so focus on the verse.
John Kirkpatrick — “Dust to Dust”
The vocal and concertina stay in B Locrian. It is a rare example that holds the mode for a complete song instead of borrowing one tense riff.
Rush — “YYZ”
The introduction uses a C Locrian melody over a tritone bass figure. The rest of the piece moves through other sounds, so isolate the opening.
Fretboard map
Standard tuning, frets 0-12. Blue is the root, and the light-blue ring marks the characteristic note.
Tap any dot to hear that exact pitch. Swipe sideways to see the full neck. With a keyboard, use Tab and press Enter or Space.
Choose a dot to hear its pitch
Interactive lab
Restore or remove the perfect fifth
Play one scale at a time and listen for the changed degrees. Tap the playing card again to stop.
Original tab exercises
Play slowly enough to hear the interval named in this chapter. Every exercise is original OpenFret material, so you can practice the idea without copying a song.
Swipe sideways to follow the full line.
Original OpenFret exercise · standard tuning unless marked otherwise
Swipe sideways to follow the full line.
Original OpenFret exercise · standard tuning unless marked otherwise
Practice assignment
Take this to the guitar
Hold a low B pedal and alternate C and F above it. Write a two-bar rhythm that lands on B every first beat without resolving the whole idea to C.
Mastery check
Play-through and four-question quiz
Play the chapter piece first. Score 75% on the quiz to pass. You can retake it right away.
Chapter play-through
Play the whole chapter
Balance B against C and F across the neck, then raise F for one bar so you can feel exactly what the flat 5 changes.
- Land on B often enough that C does not steal the center.
- Outline B, D, F, and A in the diminished-skeleton section.
- Compare F with F-sharp before returning to B Locrian.
Swipe sideways to follow the full line.
Original OpenFret exercise · standard tuning unless marked otherwise
0 of 4 questions answered
Answer the remaining 4 questions to check your work.
Locrian FAQ
Why is Locrian unstable?
Its tonic chord is diminished and its scale has both flat 2 and flat 5, removing the perfect fifth and placing strong tension next to the root.
What chord fits Locrian?
A minor-seven-flat-five or diminished tonic chord. B Locrian naturally fits Bm7-flat-5: B, D, F, A.
Do songs use Locrian?
Complete songs rarely remain strictly Locrian, but riffs, film cues, metal passages, and jazz improvisation over half-diminished chords use its sound.