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:
F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B – C – D – EThese 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:
W – W – H – H – W – W – WApplied 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