Notes in the A Locrian scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Tonic |
| ♭2 | B♭ | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | C | Mediant |
| 4 | D | Subdominant |
| ♭5 | E♭ | Dominant |
| ♭6 | F | Submediant |
| ♭7 | G | Subtonic |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: A B♭ C D E♭ F G.
A Locrian scale formula
The pattern of steps from one note to the next is H – W – W – H – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
Chords in the A Locrian scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i° | A° | Aø7 |
| II | B♭ | B♭maj7 |
| iii | Cm | Cm7 |
| iv | Dm | Dm7 |
| V | E♭ | E♭maj7 |
| VI | F | F7 |
| vii | Gm | Gm7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Parent major scale: B♭ Major, which has exactly the same notes as A Locrian.
How to practise the A Locrian scale
Learn each mode by its characteristic note: the one that makes it different from the major or minor scale it most resembles. Play a drone on the tonic while you play the scale to hear its colour.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes in the A Locrian scale?
The notes of the A Locrian scale are A B♭ C D E♭ F G.
What is the formula for the A Locrian scale?
The pattern of whole and half steps is H – W – W – H – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
What chords are in the A Locrian scale?
Built from the scale in triads: A°, B♭, Cm, Dm, E♭, F, Gm.
More A scales
A Major, A Natural Minor, A Harmonic Minor, A Melodic Minor, A Dorian, A Phrygian, A Lydian, A Mixolydian, A Major Pentatonic, A Minor Pentatonic, A Blues, A Lydian Dominant, A Altered, A Whole Tone, A Dorian ♭2, A Lydian Augmented, A Mixolydian ♭6, A Locrian ♯2, A Phrygian Dominant, A Hungarian Minor, A Double Harmonic, A Diminished (W–H), A Diminished (H–W), A Bebop Dominant, A Bebop Major
Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.