F♭ Locrian Major Scale

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

F♭ 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 F♭ Locrian scale.

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

F♭ Locrian Major Scale Notes

The F♭ Locrian major scale contains the following notes:

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

F♭ Locrian Major Piano Diagram

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

F♭ Locrian Major Scale Formula and Intervals

The interval formula for the Locrian major scale is:

Applied to F♭, this gives us:

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

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

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

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

Related Scales and Modes

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

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

F♭ Locrian Major Scale FAQs

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

F♭ Locrian major has a major 2nd (G♭) and major 3rd (A♭), while F♭ Locrian has a minor 2nd (G♭♭) and minor 3rd (A♭♭).

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

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

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

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

What is the parent scale of F♭ Locrian major?

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

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

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

Summary: F♭ Locrian Major Scale

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