EADGBE123456789101112b2b34b5b6b71b2b5b6b71b2b34b51b2b34b5b6b74b5b6b71b2b3b6b71b2b34b5b6b2b34b5b6b71b2
Fig. 1 · D# Locrian · first 12 frets

guitar scale

D♯ Locrian

D♯1E♭2F♯♭3G♯4A♭5B♭6C♯♭7

The only mode of the major scale whose fifth is diminished, which is why its tonic chord cannot rest.

The same sounds spelled from the other side are E♭ Locrian.

on ukuleleon piano

Written out

Fig. 2 · D# Locrian, ascending

Every accidental is written in, rather than left to a key signature, so the letters can be read one at a time.

The step pattern

D♯HEWF♯WG♯HAWBWC♯WD♯

What is true of it

D♯ Locrian is D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, B and C♯, and back to D♯.

Its steps are H – W – W – H – W – W – W, where W is a whole step and H a half.

On the same tonic, D♯ Phrygian differs from it by exactly one note.

Across the first twelve frets of the guitar its notes fall in 46 places, which is what makes a scale a shape rather than a list.

Chords made only of these notes

C♯mminorC♯m7minor seventhD♯dimdiminishedD♯m7♭5half-diminished seventhEmajorEmaj7major seventhF♯mminorF♯m7minor seventh

Found by testing every chord in the catalogue against these 7 sounds, not chosen.

Other scales on D♯

D♯ DorianmodeD♯ PhrygianmodeD♯ LydianmodeD♯ majormajorD♯ natural minorminorD♯ harmonic minorminor

C locC♯ locD♭ locD locE locF locF♯ locG♭ locall 374