Home

C Locrian Mode

Also known as: Diminished Scale

Unstable, dissonant, and unsettling. The ♭5 prevents any sense of resolution.

C Locrian Mode Notes

C1
C#♭2
D#♭3
F4
F#♭5
G#♭6
A#♭7
C8

Notes: C - C# - D# - F - F# - G# - A# - C

Scale Formula & Intervals

Interval Pattern

H-W-W-H-W-W-W

W = Whole step (2 semitones), H = Half step (1 semitone)

Scale Degrees

1 - ♭2 - ♭3 - 4 - ♭5 - ♭6 - ♭7

Scale degrees relative to the root note

Semitones from Root

01356810

Famous Songs Using This Scale

1

Army of Me

Björk

2

YYZ (sections)

Rush

Practice Tips for C Locrian Mode

  • The 7th mode of the major scale
  • The only mode with a diminished 5th
  • Rarely used as a tonal center due to instability
  • Great for creating tension and unease

Common Genres

MetalJazzProgressiveExperimentalFilm Scores

Practice This Scale

Use our interactive scale practice tool to hear and learn the C Locrian Mode.

Practice Now

Locrian Mode in Other Keys

Share This Scale

All Scales