A♭ Locrian Major Scale

The A♭ Locrian major scale, sometimes referred to as the A♭ major Locrian scale or A♭ Arabian scale, is the 5th mode of the D♭ Neapolitan major scale.

A♭ Locrian major is a rare scale and is not frequently used in contemporary music. It can be derived by raising the 2nd and 3rd of the A♭ Locrian scale.

This page covers everything you need to know about the A♭ Locrian major scale: notes, intervals, theory, and how to play it on the piano.

A♭ Locrian Major Scale Notes

The A♭ Locrian major scale contains the following notes:

These notes come directly from the D♭ Neapolitan major parent scale, starting on its 5th degree (A♭).

A♭ Locrian Major Piano Diagram

This diagram highlights which keys belong to the A♭ Locrian major scale, which is helpful for visualizing whole steps, half steps, and the overall shape of the scale on the keyboard.

A♭ Locrian Major Scale Formula and Intervals

The interval formula for the Locrian major scale is:

Applied to A♭, this gives us:

• A♭ → B♭
• B♭ → C
• C → D♭
• D♭ → E♭♭
• E♭♭ → F♭
• F♭ → G♭
• G♭ → A♭

Thus, A♭ Locrian major is built with the following scale degrees:

• Root (A♭)
• Major 2nd (B♭)
• Major 3rd (C)
• Perfect 4th (D♭)
• Diminished 5th (E♭♭)
• Minor 6th (F♭)
• Minor 7th (G♭)

This structure gives the Locrian major scale a distinctive sound: it includes a major 3rd (C) alongside a diminished 5th (E♭♭), creating a bright but unstable quality that is uncommon in traditional major/minor harmony.

Related Scales and Modes

If you enjoy playing in A♭ Locrian major, you may also like:

• A♭ Locrian (A♭ Locrian major with a flat 2nd and 3rd)
• A♭ natural minor (A♭ Locrian major with a flat 3rd and raised 5th)
• A♭ Phrygian Dominant (A♭ Locrian major with a flat 2nd and raised 5th)
• D♭ Neapolitan major (parent scale)

A♭ Locrian Major Scale FAQs

How is A♭ Locrian major different from A♭ Locrian?

A♭ Locrian major has a major 2nd (B♭) and major 3rd (C), while A♭ Locrian has a minor 2nd (B♭♭) and minor 3rd (C♭).

How is A♭ Locrian major different from A♭ natural minor?

A♭ Locrian major has a major 3rd (C) and a diminished 5th (E♭♭), while A♭ natural minor has a minor 3rd (C♭) and a perfect 5th (E♭).

How is A♭ Locrian major different from A♭ Phrygian Dominant?

A♭ Locrian major has a major 2nd (B♭) and a diminished 5th (E♭♭), while A♭ Phrygian Dominant has a minor 2nd (B♭♭) and a perfect 5th (E♭).

What is the parent scale of A♭ Locrian major?

D♭ Neapolitan major. A♭ Locrian major uses the same notes as D♭ Neapolitan major, but starts on its 5th degree (A♭).

Is A♭ Locrian major the same as the A♭ Arabian scale?

A♭ Locrian major is sometimes referred to as the A♭ Arabian scale in Western theory, but this name is informal.

Summary: A♭ Locrian Major Scale

• Notes: A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭♭, F♭, G♭
• Mode: 5th mode of D♭ Neapolitan major
• Formula: W, W, H, H, W, W, W