B♭ Locrian Major Scale

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

B♭ 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 B♭ Locrian scale.

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

B♭ Locrian Major Scale Notes

The B♭ Locrian major scale contains the following notes:

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

B♭ Locrian Major Piano Diagram

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

B♭ Locrian Major Scale Formula and Intervals

The interval formula for the Locrian major scale is:

Applied to B♭, this gives us:

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

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

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

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

Related Scales and Modes

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

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

B♭ Locrian Major Scale FAQs

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

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

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

B♭ Locrian major has a major 3rd (D) and a diminished 5th (F♭), while B♭ natural minor has a minor 3rd (D♭) and a perfect 5th (F).

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

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

What is the parent scale of B♭ Locrian major?

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

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

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

Summary: B♭ Locrian Major Scale

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