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.
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).
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.