A Locrian
A minor diatonic mode with a minor 2nd and diminished 5th above the tonic; its tonic triad is unstable.
Octaves
Musical context
How the mode relates to the scale, chord, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- A Locrian
- Family
- Diatonic modes
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- H – W – W – H – W – W – W
Notes & degrees
1Aroot
b2Bbminor 2nd
b3Cminor 3rd
4Dperfect 4th
b5Ebdim 5th
b6Fminor 6th
b7Gminor 7th
Characteristic degrees
IIBblowered 2nd degree
VEblowered 5th degree
Construction
- Overview
- A minor diatonic mode with a minor 2nd and diminished 5th above the tonic; its tonic triad is unstable.
- Application in music
- Pairs with m7b5 chords. Its diminished tonic triad makes the tonal centre difficult to establish.
- Interval formula
- AHBbWCWDHEbWFWG
- Reference mode
- A Aeolian
A Aeolian
IA
IIB
IIIC
IVD
VE
VIF
VIIG
A Locrian
IA
IIBb
IIIC
IVD
VEb
VIF
VIIG
How the mode is built
- Position in the system
- Degree 7 of the parent major scale
- Parent scale
- Bb majorLocrian mode — degree 7 of the scale
- Parallel major
- A majormajor from the same tonic
Sibling modes
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IAnominal centretonic
IIICdefines modal qualitythird
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIICC
IVDD
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IAA
IIBbBb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This mode on guitar 🎸
See how A Locrian looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.