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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.

B♯EC♯D♯F♯G♯A♯

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.

EADGBe135791215EF♯G♯A♯B♯C♯D♯EF♯A♯B♯C♯D♯EF♯G♯A♯B♯D♯EF♯G♯A♯B♯C♯D♯EG♯A♯B♯C♯D♯EF♯G♯A♯B♯C♯D♯EF♯G♯A♯B♯C♯EF♯G♯A♯B♯C♯D♯EF♯

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

Notes in the A♯ Locrian ♯2 scale

DegreeNoteName
1A♯Tonic
2B♯Supertonic
♭3C♯Mediant
4D♯Subdominant
♭5EDominant
♭6F♯Submediant
♭7G♯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 ♯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♯°A♯ø7
ii°B♯°B♯ø7
iiiC♯mC♯m(maj7)
ivD♯mD♯m7
V+E+E7♯5
VIF♯F♯7
VIIG♯G♯7

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♯°, C♯m, D♯m, E+, F♯, G♯.

More A♯ scales

A♯ Natural Minor, A♯ Phrygian, A♯ Locrian, A♯ Minor Pentatonic, A♯ Blues, A♯ Altered

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.