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Fig. 1 · A Locrian on the keyboard

piano scale

A Locrian

A1B♭♭2C♭3D4E♭♭5F♭6G♭7

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

on guitaron ukulele

Written out

Fig. 2 · A 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

AHB♭WCWDHE♭WFWGWA

What is true of it

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

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

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

Chords made only of these notes

CmminorCm7minor seventhDmminorDm7minor seventhE♭majorE♭maj7major seventhFmajorF7dominant seventh

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

Other scales on A

A DorianmodeA PhrygianmodeA LydianmodeA majormajorA natural minorminorA harmonic minorminor

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