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C locrian Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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F
G♭
A♭
B♭
C
D♭
E♭
F
G♭
A♭
B♭
C
D♭
E♭
C
D♭
E♭
F
G♭
A♭
B♭
C
D♭
E♭
F
G♭
A♭
B♭
A♭
B♭
C
D♭
E♭
F
G♭
A♭
B♭
C
D♭
E♭
F
G♭
E♭
F
G♭
A♭
B♭
C
D♭
E♭
F
G♭
A♭
B♭
C
D♭
B♭
C
D♭
E♭
F
G♭
A♭
B♭
C
D♭
E♭
F
G♭
A♭
F
G♭
A♭
B♭
C
D♭
E♭
F
G♭
A♭
B♭
C
D♭
E♭
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C locrian

The Locrian scale is a seven-note scale with a diminished fifth, creating a dissonant and unstable sound. It's often used in jazz and metal to evoke tension and mystery.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

C

I°

Cdim
D♭

bII

D♭maj
E♭

biii

E♭m
F

iv

Fm
G♭

bV

G♭maj
A♭

bVI

A♭maj
B♭

bvii

B♭m

Notation

Tab

tip
  • The Locrian mode is highly dissonant due to its flat 2nd (bII) and diminished 5th (bV). It’s often used to create tension in jazz and metal.
  • Use the Locrian mode over half-diminished or diminished chords for added dissonance, especially in jazz or progressive metal.
  • Focus on the diminished 5th (bV) in the Locrian mode when improvising to emphasize the tension and instability of the scale.
  • While uncommon in mainstream music, the Locrian scale can add a unique, dark flavor to your compositions when used sparingly.
  • Practice the Locrian scale in a chromatic context, blending it with other modes to create surprising harmonic shifts and experimental sounds.

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C locrian Scale — guitarscales