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Scale · 7 notes

C♯ Locrian ♯2 Scale

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

EGABC♯D♯F♯

Purple = C♯ (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215EF♯GABC♯D♯EF♯GABC♯D♯EF♯GABD♯EF♯GABC♯D♯EGABC♯D♯EF♯GABC♯D♯EF♯GABC♯EF♯GABC♯D♯EF♯G

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

Notes in the C♯ Locrian ♯2 scale

DegreeNoteName
1C♯Tonic
2D♯Supertonic
♭3EMediant
4F♯Subdominant
♭5GDominant
♭6ASubmediant
♭7BSubtonic

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

C♯ 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 C♯ Locrian ♯2 scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
i°C♯°C♯ø7
ii°D♯°D♯ø7
iiiEmEm(maj7)
ivF♯mF♯m7
V+G+G7♯5
VIAA7
VIIBB7

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

How to practise the C♯ 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 C♯ Locrian ♯2 scale?

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

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

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

More C♯ scales

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