Bb Locrian Mode
Bb–Cb–Db–Eb–Fb–Gb–Ab · root also written A#
Bb Locrian is the 7th mode of the B major scale: Bb–Cb–Db–Eb–Fb–Gb–Ab. Its character: unstable, dissonant, and eerie — the darkest of all modes.
The flat 2nd and flat 5th create a diminished root chord, making the tonic feel inherently unresolved. Used sparingly for maximum tension and unease. On guitar, target the flat 5th (Fb) in your phrases — landing on it against the root is what makes a line sound Locrian instead of plain minor.
Because every mode of B major shares the same seven notes, any B major fretboard shape works for Bb Locrian — what changes is the note you resolve to. Loop a Bb° vamp or a backing track that stays on Bb, keep resolving your phrases to Bb, and the Locrian color comes through. You'll hear this sound in metal and jazz.
This page is the key-specific reference. If you want to understand why the modes sound different, start with the free Guitar Modes Interactive Book. It teaches tonal center from scratch, then uses parallel comparisons, ear training, and a riff-writing capstone.
Bb Locrian is mode 7 of B Major — same seven notes, resolved to Bb instead.
Bb Locrian on the Fretboard
Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Every dot is a note in the mode — blue dots are the root (Bb).
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
Notes and Intervals
| Interval | R | ♭2 | ♭3 | 4 | ♭5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Bb | Cb | Db | Eb | Fb | Gb | Ab |
The highlighted Fb is the flat 5th — the note that gives Locrian its sound.
Locrian vs. Natural Minor
Everything else about the two scales is identical — these are the only degrees that change.
| Bb natural minor | Bb Locrian | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | ♭2 | Cb |
| 5 | ♭5 | Fb |
Chords in Bb Locrian
The seven chords of B Major, reordered to start from Bb — vamping between the first two or three keeps the Locrian sound from collapsing back into the parent key.
Songs That Use the Locrian Sound
Black Sabbath — “Black Sabbath”
The tritone (flat 5th) that opens the song captures Locrian's essence. Tony Iommi leans into the diminished quality for maximum dread.
Dream Theater — “The Glass Prison”
Uses Locrian passages in the heavy sections, leveraging the diminished root chord and flat 5th for intense, unsettled riffing.
John Coltrane — “Impressions (bridge)”
While primarily Dorian, Coltrane explores Locrian territory in his improvisations over half-diminished chords, pushing into its dissonant character.
Bb Locrian Mode FAQ
What is the Bb Locrian mode?
Bb Locrian is the 7th mode of the B major scale — the same seven notes starting from Bb: Bb–Cb–Db–Eb–Fb–Gb–Ab. The interval formula is R–♭2–♭3–4–♭5–♭6–♭7.
What is the difference between Bb Locrian and Bb natural minor?
Two notes: where Bb natural minor has 2, Bb Locrian has ♭2 (Cb), and where Bb natural minor has 5, Bb Locrian has ♭5 (Fb). Those alterations are the entire difference in sound — everything else about the two scales is identical.
What chords work with Bb Locrian?
The seven chords of the parent B major scale, reordered to start from Bb: Bb° (i°), B (♭II), Dbm (♭iii), Ebm (iv), E (♭V), F# (♭VI), Abm (♭vii). A two-chord vamp between Bb° and B is the classic way to establish the Locrian sound without drifting back to the parent key.
What major scale has the same notes as Bb Locrian?
B major. Bb Locrian uses exactly the notes of B major starting from its 7th degree, so every B major shape on the fretboard doubles as a Bb Locrian shape. The same notes also spell B Ionian, Db Dorian, Eb Phrygian, E Lydian, F# Mixolydian, and Ab Aeolian.
How do I practice the Bb Locrian mode?
Modes live and die by harmonic context — run over a static Bb° vamp or a drone on Bb, not a full progression that pulls back to the parent key. Play the B major shapes you already know, resolve every phrase to Bb, and lean on the flat 5th (Fb). OpenFret's free Studio has a fretboard viewer and metronome for exactly this, and Guitar Quest turns scale practice into a game with real-time pitch detection.
Modes Sharing These Notes
All seven modes of B Major use the same seven notes — each one treats a different note as home.
Related Modes
Practice Bb Locrian with real feedback
Guitar Quest listens to your real guitar and turns scale practice into a game — run modes to battle monsters, with every note checked by pitch detection. Free in your browser, no signup needed.