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Scale · 7 notes

B Locrian ♯2 Scale

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

DEFGABC♯

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215EFGABC♯DEFGABC♯DEFGABDEFGABC♯DEFGABC♯DEFGABC♯DEFGABC♯DEFGABC♯DEFG

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

Notes in the B Locrian ♯2 scale

DegreeNoteName
1BTonic
2C♯Supertonic
♭3DMediant
4ESubdominant
♭5FDominant
♭6GSubmediant
♭7ASubtonic

Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: B C♯ D E F G A.

B 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 B Locrian ♯2 scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
i°B°Bø7
ii°C♯°C♯ø7
iiiDmDm(maj7)
ivEmEm7
V+F+F7♯5
VIGG7
VIIAA7

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

How to practise the B 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 B Locrian ♯2 scale?

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

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

Built from the scale in triads: B°, C♯°, Dm, Em, F+, G, A.

More B scales

B Major, B Natural Minor, B Harmonic Minor, B Melodic Minor, B Dorian, B Phrygian, B Lydian, B Mixolydian, B Locrian, B Major Pentatonic, B Minor Pentatonic, B Blues, B Lydian Dominant, B Altered, B Dorian ♭2, B Mixolydian ♭6, B Phrygian Dominant, B Hungarian Minor, B Double Harmonic, B Diminished (W–H), B Diminished (H–W), B Bebop Dominant, B 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.