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:
A♯ – B♯ – C♯♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯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:
W – W – H – H – W – W – WApplied 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