Modes
B Locrian Mode on Piano
B Locrian is the seventh and rarest 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 | Tritone (♭5) |
| 6 | G | Minor 6th |
| 7 | A | Minor 7th |
| 8 | B | Octave |
H-W-W-H-W-W-WH · W · W · H · W · W · WLocrian has a lowered 2nd AND a lowered 5th — its tonic triad is a diminished chord.
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.
- 1B
- 2C
- 3D
- 1E
- 2F
- 3G
- 4A
- 5B
- 5B
- 4C
- 3D
- 2E
- 1F
- 3G
- 2A
- 1B
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 — the harmonic backbone of any piece written in this key.
Where You Hear This Scale
Because Locrian cannot build a stable I chord, it rarely appears as a full tonal center, but it is indispensable for jazz improvisation over half-diminished (m7♭5) chords, and you will hear it in metal and progressive rock where composers want maximum tension. Listening to a Locrian scale in isolation is one of the most efficient ways to hear just how much the tonic triad shapes the character of every other mode.
Train Your Ear to Recognize This Scale
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