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C♭ Locrian Major Scale

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

C♭ 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 C♭ Locrian scale.

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

C♭ Locrian Major Scale Notes

The C♭ Locrian major scale contains the following notes:

C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F♭ – G♭♭ – A♭♭ – B♭♭

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

C♭ Locrian Major Piano Diagram

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

C♭ Locrian Major Scale Formula and Intervals

The interval formula for the Locrian major scale is:

W – W – H – H – W – W – W

Applied to C♭, this gives us:

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

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

Related Scales and Modes

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

C♭ Locrian Major Scale FAQs

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is the parent scale of C♭ Locrian major?

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

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

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

Summary: C♭ Locrian Major Scale