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