Locrian Scale

Mysterious Locrian scale, the seventh mode that sounds dark and unresolved. This example covers B Locrian.

What Is Locrian Scale

Locrian scale is the seventh mode of the major scale, and it's the darkest. It has a weird, unstable sound that doesn't feel like it wants to rest anywhere. That's because it has a flat 5th, which makes even simple chords sound tense and unfinished.

B Locrian uses the same notes as C major, but starting on B gives it a completely different, unsettled feeling that's hard to ignore.

The pattern for Locrian is: half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole. What makes it special (and difficult) is that flat 5th. In B Locrian, that's the F note. Most scales have a perfect 5th that sounds stable, but flat 5th creates constant tension.

On guitar, Locrian is tough to use because it doesn't resolve nicely. You can't build normal chords from it. But that's exactly why metal players and experimental musicians like this scale. It works great for creating atmosphere or adding tension.

Compared to other guitar scales, Locrian is the odd one out. That makes it hard to use but also unique when you want something different.