C Locrian Mode on Guitar

The C Locrian Mode is a 7-note scale (unstable, tense) built from the formula 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7. Its notes are C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭. Below you'll find the scale on the whole fretboard, the chords that belong to it and related scales — open it in the interactive fretboard for 3NPS, CAGED and pentatonic box patterns with playback.

Notes and intervals

DegreeNoteInterval
1Croot
♭2D♭Minor 2nd
♭3E♭Minor 3rd
4FPerfect 4th
♭5G♭Diminished 5th (tritone)
♭6A♭Minor 6th
♭7B♭Minor 7th

Steps: H – W – W – H – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step)

C Locrian Mode on the fretboard (15 frets)

C Locrian Mode – guitar fretboardEADGBEF4G♭♭5A♭♭6B♭♭7C1D♭♭2E♭♭3F4G♭♭5B♭♭7C1D♭♭2E♭♭3F4G♭♭5A♭♭6B♭♭7C1E♭♭3F4G♭♭5A♭♭6B♭♭7C1D♭♭2E♭♭3F4A♭♭6B♭♭7C1D♭♭2E♭♭3F4G♭♭5A♭♭6B♭♭7C1D♭♭2E♭♭3F4G♭♭5A♭♭6B♭♭7C1D♭♭2F4G♭♭5A♭♭6B♭♭7C1D♭♭2E♭♭3F4G♭♭5123456789101112131415

Standard tuning E A D G B E. Pink = root, purple = characteristic notes. 3NPS, CAGED and box patterns plus other tunings are in the interactive fretboard.

Chords in the scale

Modes with the same notes

Other scales from C

Locrian in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the C Locrian Mode?
The C Locrian Mode has 7 notes: C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭. Its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
What intervals make up the C Locrian Mode?
Step pattern: H – W – W – H – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Intervals from the root: ♭2 (Minor 2nd), ♭3 (Minor 3rd), 4 (Perfect 4th), ♭5 (Diminished 5th (tritone)), ♭6 (Minor 6th), ♭7 (Minor 7th).
What chords are in the C Locrian Mode?
Triads: C°, D♭, E♭m, Fm, G♭, A♭, B♭m. Seventh chords: Cm7♭5, D♭maj7, E♭m7, Fm7, G♭maj7, A♭7, B♭m7.