Home

D Locrian Mode

Also known as: Diminished Scale

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

D Locrian Mode Notes

D1
D#♭2
F♭3
G4
G#♭5
A#♭6
C♭7
D8

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

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 D 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 D Locrian Mode.

Practice Now

Locrian Mode in Other Keys

Share This Scale

All Scales