Modes

B Locrian Mode on Piano

B Locrian is the seventh mode of C major: the white keys starting on B. Its tonic triad is diminished, which means Locrian has no stable "home" chord, and that instability is both its challenge and its charm.

Notes of the B Locrian Scale

Degree	Note	Interval from root
1	B	Root
2	C	Minor 2nd
3	D	Minor 3rd
4	E	Perfect 4th
5	F	Diminished 5th
6	G	Minor 6th
7	A	Minor 7th
8	B	Octave

FormulaH-W-W-H-W-W-WH · W · W · H · W · W · W

Locrian has a lowered 2nd AND a lowered 5th — its tonic triad is a diminished chord.

W = whole step, H = half step.

B Locrian on the Staff

One octave ascending in bass clef with the key signature of C major (no sharps, no flats).

Fingering

A standard one-octave fingering for an all-white-key scale starting on B.

Right hand

Left hand

Numbers indicate fingers: 1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = little. Both rows are shown in ascending order (low note to high note). Note the left hand starts on the pinky (5) at the lowest note and crosses the middle finger over the thumb to continue upward — that is why the left-hand numbers count down before cycling again.

Diatonic Chords in B Locrian

The seven triads built on each scale degree. They use only the notes of this scale; real pieces often add chords with altered notes as well.

i°B diminished

IIC major

iiiD minor

ivE minor

VF major

VIG major

viiA minor

Where You Hear This Scale

Because Locrian has no stable tonic chord, whole pieces rarely stay in it. Jazz players often use it over half-diminished (m7♭5) chords, and it shows up in some metal and progressive rock. Playing it on its own is a good way to hear how much the tonic chord shapes the sound of every other mode.

Train Your Ear to Recognize This Scale

Put what you learned into practice with Fortepian's free scale identification exercise. Hear a scale and identify it — 9 progressive levels, from major and minor to modes, pentatonic, blues, and exotic scales. No signup needed.

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