Piano scale
F Locrian Mode
The F Locrian Mode has 7 notes: F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭.
- F1
- G♭2
- A♭3
- B♭4
- C♭5
- D♭6
- E♭7
Notes of the F Locrian Mode
| Degree | Notes | Intervals | Formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | Root | 1 |
| 2 | G♭ | Minor 2nd | ♭2 |
| 3 | A♭ | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| 4 | B♭ | Perfect 4th | 4 |
| 5 | C♭ | Diminished 5th | ♭5 |
| 6 | D♭ | Minor 6th | ♭6 |
| 7 | E♭ | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
Step pattern
H – W – W – H – W – W – W
From the root to the octave the scale moves in this pattern: H – W – W – H – W – W – W.
W = whole step (2 semitones), H = half step (1 semitone), W+H = 3 semitones
Sound and character
The most dissonant mode — a diminished 5th built right into the scale. Unstable by design. Rarely used melodically, but beloved in heavy metal.
Sound: Dissonant & extreme
Chords in the F Locrian Mode
Stack every other note of the scale on each degree to get its chords.
How to use it
Mostly used over a half-diminished (m7♭5) chord, for example the ii chord of a minor ii–V–i in jazz.
F Locrian Mode uses the same notes as the F♯ Major scale, starting from a different note.
Songs that use it
- YYZ · RushProgressive Rock
- Army of Darkness Theme · Joseph LoDucaFilm Score
- Seek & Destroy · MetallicaMetal
Play the F Locrian Mode with different sounds in the interactive builder.
Open in the chord builderPractising on an acoustic piano that sounds off?
If chords sound sour even when you play the right notes, the piano is probably out of tune. Our technicians tune pianos across Israel.