D♯ Locrian Major Scale

The D♯ Locrian major scale, sometimes referred to as the D♯ major Locrian scale or D♯ Arabian scale, is the 5th mode of the G♯ Neapolitan major scale.

D♯ 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 D♯ Locrian scale.

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

D♯ Locrian Major Scale Notes

The D♯ Locrian major scale contains the following notes:

These notes come directly from the G♯ Neapolitan major parent scale, starting on its 5th degree (D♯).

D♯ Locrian Major Piano Diagram

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

D♯ Locrian Major Scale Formula and Intervals

The interval formula for the Locrian major scale is:

Applied to D♯, this gives us:

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

Thus, D♯ Locrian major is built with the following scale degrees:

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

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

Related Scales and Modes

If you enjoy playing in D♯ Locrian major, you may also like:

• D♯ Locrian (D♯ Locrian major with a flat 2nd and 3rd)
• D♯ natural minor (D♯ Locrian major with a flat 3rd and raised 5th)
• D♯ Phrygian Dominant (D♯ Locrian major with a flat 2nd and raised 5th)
• G♯ Neapolitan major (parent scale)

D♯ Locrian Major Scale FAQs

How is D♯ Locrian major different from D♯ Locrian?

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

How is D♯ Locrian major different from D♯ natural minor?

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

How is D♯ Locrian major different from D♯ Phrygian Dominant?

D♯ Locrian major has a major 2nd (E♯) and a diminished 5th (A), while D♯ Phrygian Dominant has a minor 2nd (E) and a perfect 5th (A♯).

What is the parent scale of D♯ Locrian major?

G♯ Neapolitan major. D♯ Locrian major uses the same notes as G♯ Neapolitan major, but starts on its 5th degree (D♯).

Is D♯ Locrian major the same as the D♯ Arabian scale?

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

Summary: D♯ Locrian Major Scale

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