C 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 scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- C Locrian
- Family
- Diatonic scales
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- H – W – W – H – W – W – W
- Numeric formula
- 0-1-2-2-1-2-2-2
Notes & degrees
1Croot
b2Dbminor 2nd
b3Ebminor 3rd
4Fperfect 4th
b5Gbdim 5th
b6Abminor 6th
b7Bbminor 7th
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
- CHDbWEbWFHGbWAbWBb
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
ICnominal centretonic
IIIEbdefines modal qualitythird
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIIEbEb
IVFF
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
ICC
IIDbDb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how C 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.