B♭ Locrian Scale
The B♭ Locrian scale is the 7th mode of the C♭ major scale, giving it an unmistakably dark, unstable, and dissonant character. Its diminished 5th and minor 2nd create a tense, unresolved quality.
Of all the modes of the major scale, Locrian is the most dissonant (owing to its diminished 5th) and the least frequently used. Nevertheless, it has appeared occasionally in classical, metal, and Middle Eastern music.
This page covers everything you need to know about the B♭ Locrian scale: notes, intervals, theory, and how to play it on the piano.
B♭ Locrian Scale Notes
The B♭ Locrian scale contains the following notes:
B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭These notes come directly from the C♭ major parent scale, starting on its 7th degree (B♭).
B♭ Locrian Piano Diagram
This diagram highlights which keys belong to the B♭ Locrian scale, which is helpful for visualizing whole steps, half steps, and the overall shape of the scale on the keyboard.
B♭ Locrian Scale Formula and Intervals
The interval formula for the Locrian scale is:
H – W – W – H – W – W – WApplied to B♭, this gives us:
- B♭ → C♭
- C♭ → D♭
- D♭ → E♭
- E♭ → F♭
- F♭ → G♭
- G♭ → A♭
- A♭ → B♭
Thus, B♭ Locrian is built with the following scale degrees:
- Root (B♭)
- Minor 2nd (C♭)
- Minor 3rd (D♭)
- Perfect 4th (E♭)
- Diminished 5th (F♭)
- Minor 6th (G♭)
- Minor 7th (A♭)
This structure gives the Locrian mode its characteristic minor quality combined with a distinctive flat 2nd and dissonant flat 5th.
Chords in the Key of B♭ Locrian
When stacking thirds on each scale degree of the B♭ Locrian scale, the following diatonic triads emerge:
- B♭ diminished (i°)
- C♭ major (II)
- D♭ minor (iii)
- E♭ minor (iv)
- F♭ major (V)
- G♭ major (VI)
- A♭ minor (vii)
Related Scales and Modes
If you enjoy playing in B♭ Locrian, you may also like:
- B♭ Phrygian (Locrian with a perfect 5th)
- B♭ minor (Locrian with a major 2nd and perfect 5th)
- C♭ major (parent scale)
B♭ Locrian Scale FAQs
How is B♭ Locrian different from B♭ Phrygian?
B♭ Locrian has a diminished 5th (F♭) while B♭ Phrygian has a perfect 5th (F).
How is B♭ Locrian different from B♭ natural minor?
B♭ Locrian has a minor 2nd (C♭) and a diminished 5th (F♭) while B♭ natural minor has a major 2nd (C) and a perfect 5th (F).
What is the parent scale of B♭ Locrian?
C♭ major. B♭ Locrian uses the same notes as C♭ major, but starts on its 7th degree (B♭).
Summary: B♭ Locrian Scale
- Notes: B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭
- Mode: 7th mode of C♭ major
- Formula: H, W, W, H, W, W, W