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Scale · 7 notes

A Locrian ♯2 Scale

A Locrian ♯2 is a 7-note scale with the notes A B C D E♭ F G. It sounds the sixth mode of melodic minor: Locrian with a natural 2nd, the smoothest scale for half-diminished chords.

CDFGABE♭

Purple = A (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

Every A locrian ♯2 note on the neck. Pick a pattern to see the compact fingering shape that fits under one hand.

EADGBe135791215FGABCDE♭FGABCDE♭FGABCDE♭FGABCDE♭FGABCDE♭FGABCDE♭FGABCDFGABCDE♭FG

Blue = A (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the A Locrian ♯2 scale

DegreeNoteName
1ATonic
2BSupertonic
♭3CMediant
4DSubdominant
♭5E♭Dominant
♭6FSubmediant
♭7GSubtonic

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 ♯2 scale formula

The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – H – 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 ♯2 scale

Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:

DegreeTriad7th chord
i°A°Aø7
ii°B°Bø7
iiiCmCm(maj7)
ivDmDm7
V+E♭+E♭7♯5
VIFF7
VIIGG7

Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.

How to practise the A Locrian ♯2 scale

Learn it as a rotation of a scale you already know (lydian dominant is melodic minor starting on its 4th note, altered starts on its 7th) and play it over the matching chord with a drone on the root.

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes in the A Locrian ♯2 scale?

The notes of the A Locrian ♯2 scale are A B C D E♭ F G.

What is the formula for the A Locrian ♯2 scale?

The pattern of whole and half steps is W – H – 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 ♯2 scale?

Built from the scale in triads: A°, B°, Cm, Dm, E♭+, F, G.

More A scales

A Major, A Natural Minor, A Harmonic Minor, A Melodic Minor, A Dorian, A Phrygian, A Lydian, A Mixolydian, A Locrian, 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 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.