B Locrian Mode
B–C–D–E–F–G–A
B Locrian is the 7th mode of the C major scale: B–C–D–E–F–G–A. 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 (F) in your phrases — landing on it against the root is what makes a line sound Locrian instead of plain minor.
Because every mode of C major shares the same seven notes, any C major fretboard shape works for B Locrian — what changes is the note you resolve to. Loop a B° vamp or a backing track that stays on B, keep resolving your phrases to B, and the Locrian color comes through. You'll hear this sound in metal and jazz.
B Locrian is mode 7 of C Major — same seven notes, resolved to B instead.
B Locrian on the Fretboard
Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Every dot is a note in the mode — blue dots are the root (B).
Notes and Intervals
| Interval | R | ♭2 | ♭3 | 4 | ♭5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | B | C | D | E | F | G | A |
The highlighted F 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.
| B natural minor | B Locrian | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | ♭2 | C |
| 5 | ♭5 | F |
Chords in B Locrian
The seven chords of C Major, reordered to start from B — 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.
B Locrian Mode FAQ
What is the B Locrian mode?
B Locrian is the 7th mode of the C major scale — the same seven notes starting from B: B–C–D–E–F–G–A. The interval formula is R–♭2–♭3–4–♭5–♭6–♭7.
What is the difference between B Locrian and B natural minor?
Two notes: where B natural minor has 2, B Locrian has ♭2 (C), and where B natural minor has 5, B Locrian has ♭5 (F). Those alterations are the entire difference in sound — everything else about the two scales is identical.
What chords work with B Locrian?
The seven chords of the parent C major scale, reordered to start from B: B° (i°), C (♭II), Dm (♭iii), Em (iv), F (♭V), G (♭VI), Am (♭vii). A two-chord vamp between B° and C is the classic way to establish the Locrian sound without drifting back to the parent key.
What major scale has the same notes as B Locrian?
C major. B Locrian uses exactly the notes of C major starting from its 7th degree, so every C major shape on the fretboard doubles as a B Locrian shape. The same notes also spell C Ionian, D Dorian, E Phrygian, F Lydian, G Mixolydian, and A Aeolian.
How do I practice the B Locrian mode?
Modes live and die by harmonic context — run over a static B° vamp or a drone on B, not a full progression that pulls back to the parent key. Play the C major shapes you already know, resolve every phrase to B, and lean on the flat 5th (F). 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 C Major use the same seven notes — each one treats a different note as home.
Related Modes
Practice B 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.