Scale · 7 notes

D Locrian ♯2 Scale

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

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

On the fretboard

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

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

Notes in the D Locrian ♯2 scale

Degree	Note	Name
1	D	Tonic
2	E	Supertonic
♭3	F	Mediant
4	G	Subdominant
♭5	A♭	Dominant
♭6	B♭	Submediant
♭7	C	Subtonic

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

D 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 D Locrian ♯2 scale

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

Degree	Triad	7th chord
i°	D°	Dø7
ii°	E°	Eø7
iii	Fm	Fm(maj7)
iv	Gm	Gm7
V+	A♭+	A♭7♯5
VI	B♭	B♭7
VII	C	C7

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

How to practise the D 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 D Locrian ♯2 scale?

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

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

Built from the scale in triads: D°, E°, Fm, Gm, A♭+, B♭, C.

More D scales

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