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